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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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LIFE 




Lay-brother of the Congregation of the Host Holy Redeemer. 



Translated from the German 



0f Reu. eiiark/Difqs^ron, G. $$. R, 




SECOND KDITION. -v 



By the Redemptorisl Fathers, L73 E.3d.St., Sen YoA 

1896. 



This bfj' Publisher* 



op Congress 



SX 4-7 oO 

.G 4-7 Us 3 

1871 



LIFE OF BLESSED BROTHER GERARD. 

Translated from me German Edition. 

NIHIL OBSTAT. 

T. L. Kinkead, 

Censor Librorum. 

IMPRIMATUR. 

Michael Augustine, 

Archbishop of New York. 

May 6th, 1896. 



LC c °ntrol Nuabei 
tap96 029035 



Copyrighted 1896, by Ferd. A. Litz. 



APPROBATION. 

rirtue o! the authority granted me by theMosI 
rend Mathias Raus, Superior General of the Con- 
ition of the Mosl EI0I3 Redeemer, i hereby sanc- 
tion this edition of the Life of Blessed Brother Gerard, 
translated from the ( rerman. 

my ardent desire thai this book may spread 

i Gerard, and Inspire the hearts 

■ young with love for the religious vocation. May 

all who feel themselves called resolutely embrace the 

state of lit'.-, which however humble, blessed Gerard 

dered so illustrious by his virtues. 

FERD. A. LITZ, C. SS. R. 

Provincial. 

v J i ■ !.. April 26th, I 

I our Lady of < lood < lounsel. 



PREFACE TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION 



An abundance of the most extraordinary operations 
of divine grace, set in the frame of ;i very ordinary 
human life, is what is here presented to the reader. 

The atmosphere <>f miracles, which'he enters who dis- 
dains cot to peruse these pages, will in no manner mis- 
lead the reader, provided he keeps constantly in mind 
the design of God in raising up souls similar to the 
\ ble ( lerard Bfajella. 

1*8 design does noi aim simply at setting in the 
firmament of the Church, as new stars, those extraordi- 
nary beings who shall serve to increase the knowledge 
of "da^ and night, " and point out the right coursethrough 
the dangerous Bea of this life; thai is, God does not 
wish tn raise ap only such Baints, who by their efforts 
and -• and the clear manifestation <>f their soul's 

life in everj particular may serve as models for instruct- 
ion and imitation. < rod's design is a loftier one, show- 
ing forth, in these vessels of grace, in an onmistakab] • 
and even palpable manner, His continued presence and 
working in the Church; and by means of heavenly orna- 
ments, exhibiting this Si... us.- of the H<>!,\ Ghost in all 
her grandi or and maj< stj . 

\- o u Lord, in the beginning of Hi- < Ihurch Bought, 
by the glorj of Hie miracles and those of His Apostles, 
to attract the attention of men and to make them ack 
now ledge " //• • ■ 

. and shall act, continuallj t<> the <'n«l of 
time, for the benefit i »i 

He permits ind forth like 

rnatural beingH, in whom miracles become in ac< i 



VI. PREFACE. 

tain sense personified, and who force us to acknowledge 
that "There is the finger of God." 

These saints are to us arguments for our holy faith 
rather than models for imitation. They are the visible 
signs of God's spirit invisibly operating in His Church. 
They are the fulfilment of the prophecy of the Redee- 
mer: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; 
in my name, they shall cast out devils, they shall speak 
with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if 
they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, 
they shall lay their hands upon the sick and they shall 
recover." (Mark XYI ; 17, 18.) 

Such saints are the bridal ornaments of the Church 
of which only she can boast, and, in which she cari 
not be imitated in the remotest degree by any of the 
heretical sects. 

The appearance of these highly privileged souls 
has for its first object the awakening of faith, of con- 
viction, of enthusiasm for our holy religion, and of that 
sentiment which our enemies so fondly and so absurdly 
call, the fanaticism of the Catholic Church. Besides, 1 >y 
these specially gifted members are often healed the par- 
tial injuries done to the Church, which require the ser- 
vices of extraordinary physicians ; sometimes, they are 
needed to enkindle the fire of zeal in a particular part of 
God's Kingdom, or to put the seal of divine approval 
on a recently established sacred institution. 

Keeping these things in view, the Catholic reader will 
find in the life of the servant of God, Gerard Majella, 
nothing strange or repulsive, notwithstanding the su- 
perabundance of what is wonderful. To the infidel, as 
well as to those under the erroneous impression that the 
Church is merely a human institution, and not a divine 
organism, vivified by the divine spirit, the history of the 
life of Brother Gerard will certainly appear to be only a 
fable and a tissue of lies ; to the believer however, it 



PREFAI E. V!l. 

will afford a new argument for truth; a consolation and 
strength In the exercise of faith. He will meditate with 
edification on the \ irtues of the saintly young man, es- 
pecially the virtues of humility and heroic obedience, 
and will reflect with ealutarj astonishmeni on the great 
number of wonderful gifts which the Lord designed to 

bestow upon him. 

A touching spectacle will be to him the poor lay- 
brother, who, with the greatest simplicity and the most 
childlike innocence accomplished an extraordinary de- 
sign of God. 

Called l>y the Lord, even in the days of his child- 
hood, Gerard obeys the divine voice with the most 
astonishing zeal; steadily and rapidly growing in spirit 
under the pressure of all kinds of Bufferings and trials, 
he manifests himself, under the influence of grace, a 
worker of miracles, a prophet, a theologian, a director of 
souls, and a man of God. 

Wherever he goes, he revives languishing piety, en- 
kindles ardent faith, enlivens Christian Charity, rescues 
innumerable souls from destruction. To his country, he 
is an ornament, and to the recently established ( congre- 
gation of Saint Alphonsus, a support. After a few 
years, he is called from the earth leaving behind him 
the splendor of his miracles. This is truly a life which 
manifests the power of grace ! It is the happy consum- 
mation of one of those designs of God Avhich are con- 
ceived for the salvation of those who say: "Oh Lord 
I believe! help my unbelief !" 'I he reader is, however, 
justified in asking the question, whether the narration 
of so wonderful a life can lay claim to full credibility? 
To this we can answer most decidedly in the arhinative. 
The sources from which is drawn the history contained 
in these pages, are of such a nature, that there cannot be 
the least doubt as to their genuineness and authenticitv. 



VIII. PREFACE. 

In regard to the history of Gerard's life and miracles, 
very many intelligent and truth-loving persons have 
given, under oath, their testimony contained in the 
"Acts relative to the Beatification and Canonization," — 
Acts from which the highest ecclesiastical authorities 
have formed the judgement that the Venerable servant of 
God practised the Christian Virtues in a heroic degree. 
These declarations, being pure and genuine sources, 
must be of the highest value to the historian. 

Of not less importance and value are to the reader the 
two lives of the Servant of God written by Fathers An- 
thony Tannoja and Joseph Landi. Father Tannoja, 
the well known, exact, and conscientious biographer of 
St. Alphonsus, not onl}* lived in the Congregation with 
the servant of God, but also had opportunities to observe 
him more closely, and perfectly to discern his spirit. 
The little book he wrote of him, and in which he 
recorded with his usual care the most important events 
of his life, was published in 1804. 

Even before Father Tannoja, Father Landi had taken 
up his pen in behalf of the saintly brother. He, too, 
could speak from personal observation; still his work, 
though finished in the year 1870, was never published, 
and exists only in MSS. . 

From the following three sources, later biographers 
have principally drawn their materials, viz : from Father 
Celestine Berruti ; then from the author of the Life of 
the Servant of God, published in Kome in 1875 ; (Com- 
pendio della vita delV. Gerardo Majella della Congre- 
gazione del SS. Ftedentore e narrazione di molte grazie 
miracolose operate da Dio ad intercesione del Venera- 
bile,) and, lastly, from the Author of the French Life, 
published in 1878 : "Life of the Venerable Gerard 
Majella." (Vie du Venerable Gerard Marie Majella 
Frere servant de la Congregation du Tres Saint Piedemp- 
teur par, un Pere Redemptoriste (Fred. Kuntz.) The 



PREFACE. IX. 

latter author, by a careful and critical use of the above- 
mentioned sources, was able to Furnish a work which 
may be regarded complete in every sense, especially 
as he sought to establish the correct chronological or- 
der of events, to which slight attention had been paid 
by the other authors. 

As regards the present history of the life of the 
Venerable Gerard, it is also taken from the "Acts of 
Beatification" and the notes of Father Tannoj a. i Father 
Landi's work was not so accessible to the author) 
yet strict regard was paid to the French life above 
mentioned, from which we have borrowed the order of 
events, as well as several other incidents not elsewhere 
mentioned, and from which we did not depart in any 
essential point. 

The short notices relative to the Congregation of the 
Most Holy Redeemer and a few of its prominent mem- 
bers, interwoven in the narrative of the Life of Gerard 
are taken from the "Croniche della Congregazione del 
SS. Redentore," written by Father Alexander deKisio 
C.SS.R.', now Archbishop of San Severino. 

Every one may now read this book with the assur- 
ance that what he has before him has been drawn from 
trustworthy sources, which have several times been 
subjected to a rigorous examination. 

Besides, as is required by the Holy See, we here 
declare, that to the Acts recorded as miracles and as 
having been performed by the Servant of God, simple 
human faith should be ascribed, and in regard to them, 
we do not wish that the judgement of the Church 
should be anticipated. 

The same remark must hold good with respect to the 
names Blessed and Saint used in this book, so far as 
they are given to persons who are not yet honored 
by the Church with these titles. 



X. PREFACE. 

May this book contribute to the honor of God, and the 
glory of His Servant Gerard ! 

May the reader while tasting the sweet kernel not be- 
come displeased with the bitter shell that surrounds it. 
Charles Dilgskron, C.SS.R. 

Vienna, Church of Our Lady of the Strand. Feast of 

the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1879. 



PREFACE TO THE SECOND GERMAN EDITION. 



In concluding the first edition of the life of the Vener- 
able Brother Gerard we expressed the hope that the ser- 
vant of God would soon be honored on our altars. 
This hope has been realized ; Leo XIII., now gloriously 
reigning has solemnly numbered Gerard Majella among 
the Blessed, and sanctioned his public veneration with 
the usual restrictions. The fulfilment of our hope al- 
lows us to publish a new edition of the life .of the 
Blessed Brother. We do this with the consoling con- 
viction that this new edition will be perused with 
greater interest by the reader, since the subject of 
this biography now belongs to those whom every faith- 
ful Catholic is, not to say bound, but at least disposed 
to regard with especial sympathy and A'eneration. 

Whilst reminding the reader that the remarks pre- 
fixed to the first edition apply equally to the second, 
we desire to add an observation which is especially 
called for by this edition. The reader will not only 
find in it many corrections that explain themselves, but 
also several material changes, principally in regard to 
the chronological sequence of events ; and the changes 
demand a satisfactory explanation. In regard to these 
changes, we make the following observations : 



PRE] H I. XI. 

When the firsl edition of the life of Blessed Gerard 
uas written, the material as well as khe chronological 
order of events had to be drawn from the oldest sources 
then obtainable, namely the w ritings of Fathers Tannoja 
and Landi. These first biographers of th< 
Brother had made useofthe Father Oaj( 

Gerard's last confessor, which had collected 

immediately after the Brother's death by the order of 
St. Uphonsus. Tlic\ did not male- direct use of 1 
notes which were Dot published ai the time for good 
reasons, and were afterwards entirely forgotten. 1 
made use of a actions work of Father 

Oajone, Id which he reproduced the contents of his 
original notes, but without strict accuracy regarding the 
chronological order of facts and many other details. 
The consequence was that in regard t«> chronology 
and several circumstances, errors crept into the works 
of Fathers Tannoja and Landi. Bya happy coincidence 
the original notes of Father Oajone, s<> long forgot 
were lately discovered; audit became possible to cor- 
rect the inaccuracies of those biographers, and to rectify 
the chronological order of facts. This, therefore, is 
the reason for the material changes, which the reader 
finds in this new edition. 

May the second edition meet with the same favor- 
able reception as the first, and procure for the Bh 
Brother many friends, clients and imitators. 

Rome, Convent of St. Alphonsus. On the Feast of the 

Purification of Our Blessed Lady, 1893. 

Fatheb Charles Dllgskbon. 



PEEFACE TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION. 



Ever since the Church has decreed to Blessed Brother 
Gerard the honor of her altars, devotion to him 
has spread widely in this country. This increase is 
largely due to the confidence in his intercession which 
the miraculous character of his life cannot fail to in- 
spire. Few saints of the last century were more 
favored with extraordinary gifts than the humble lay- 
brother of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. 

Man is always impressed by the marvellous and 
extraordinary ; it is therefore to be expected that he 
who was so highly favored by God, should also be great- 
ly honored by men. "Wherever the virtues of the holy 
brother are extolled and published, the demand for 
a complete biography of Brother Gerard becomes uni- 
versal. It is to comply with this demand that the 
present edition of Blessed Gerard's life is offered to 
the public. 

We hope that it will increase in the reader's heart 
the love of Our Lord and of His Blessed Mother, 
which was the source of Gerard's holiness. May he 
still extend his tender sympathy and efficacious inter- 
cession to those who confidently invoke him. 

The Redemptorist Fathers. 

173 East Third Street, 

New York City. 



LETTERS APOSTOLIC 

In Reference to the Beatification of the Ven. 

Servant oe God Gebabd M jjella, Lay-Brother of the 

Congregation of ri ii: Mosi Hoi.y Kkiu;i:.mi:i;. 

LEO XIII. 

Fob \ Pi.imtti \i. Remembrani e. 

[nnocence of life, which is so very pleasing t*> fche 

heavenly lamb Who feedeth among the lilies, can with 

truth be called the foundation of all Christian virtues. 

Wherefore, among the number of the most renowned 

heroes of ( !< >d"s church. ha\ «• al \\ a\ s 0660 counted those 

who have preserved untarnished the white robe of in- 
nocence received in Baptism; and, strenuously repelling 
the wily attacks of the common foe, have preserved the 

first years of their youth in purity and holiness, al- 
though subject to so many evil inclinations and sur- 
rounded by so many grave dangers. These angelic 
youths Whom God prevented with the blessings of His 
sweetness, preserving the prerogatives of divine grace 
with unshaken fortitude amidst the trials and troubles 
of this world, -these youths, I say, shine as beautiful 
lights, and serve in these important times to the Chris- 
tian people, as models and examples. Among these 
holy youths may justly be classed the Venerable Ser- 
vant of God, Gerard Majella, professed lay-brother of 
the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, who, 
following the footsteps of St. Aloysius and St. Stanis- 
laus, seems to be an angel from heaven come among 
men, and who has been to the aforesaid Congregation, 
already renowned for its merit, a most beautiful exam- 
ple and ornament. 

The servant of God was born at Muro, in 1726, of 
lionest and pious parents, and received in Baptism the 
name of Gerard. From his very youth it was his de- 
light to study piety, integrity of morals, and to practise 



XIV. riiEFACEt 

obedience towards his parents. Therefore lie abstained 
from all frivolous plays and sinful occupations, and em- 
ployed bis time in heavenly things, especially in medi- 
tating on the sufferings of Christ, before a crucifix which 
he had erected in his garden. Next to God he loved 
the Blessed Virgin Mary, and as soon as he was able 
to do so, he journeyed through the rough streets to the 
Holy House of the Mother of God. Not far from the city 
there was a little chapel erected in honor of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary, commonly called "Captignagno," and 
there he would venerate the statue of the Blessed Virgin, 
holding the Infant Jesus in her arms. Kneeling in the 
chapel before the altar one day imploring the help of 
the Infant Jesus and His divine Mother with fervent 
supplication, wonderful to relate, the Divine Child left 
the arms of His mother and hastening towards Gerard 
and embracing him, handed him a beautiful loaf of 
white bread. Gerard was beside himself with joy, and 
filled with celestial happiness he remained in the em- 
brace of the Infant Jesus for some time. Having been 
favored Avith such great condescension on the part of 
God, and presented with the wonderful bread by the 
Holy Child, Gerard iioav turned his thoughts towards 
the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Burning with 
desire to receive this heavenly bread he hastened 
to the church. It happened that a priest was distribut- 
ing Holy Communion to some of the faithful. Gerard 
urged by his ardent desire, pressed foward and joined 
those who were to receive. The priest, however, notic- 
ing the child beckoned him to depart. Overcome with 
shame, and with tears in his eyes, he left the Holy Table 
only to beseech God the more fervently to grant his 
prayer ; nor was his petition in vain. That same even- 
ing while Gerard was praying in his little room, St. 
Michael whom he highly venerated, appeared to him 
surrounded by a most radiant light and coming near 



PREFACE. XV. 

administered to him the Holy Communion and trans- 
ported liim 1" the heavenly choirs, The pious youth in 
the embrace of his beloved Jesus was filled with joy, as 
though he were already in heaven possessing the celes- 
tial vision of God. Eenceforth all his thoughts and 
cares were directed towards overcoming all obstacles in 
the acquirement of virtue. By means of penance and 

purity of heart; by Watching and fasting and cruel 

scourging, he strove to subdue his flesh. Mean- 
while his parents had nothing more at heart than that 
Gerard should be educated in the liberal arts, to which 

he also applied himself with such zeal that he was a 
model and example to all. The death of his father, 

however, which occurred soon after, interrupted his 
course of studies. Confronted by poverty, his mother 
was obliged to put Gerard to work. Therefore she 
apprenticed him to a tailor, and here according 
to the Avill and permission of God, the pious youth had 
ample opportunity to practise patience. 
One of the foremen of the tailor-shop, a wicked, 

unjust man, and prone to anger, who hated the youth 
on account of his piety, besides overwhelming lum with 
abusive language, often laid hands on him and cruelly 
beat him. Gerard, however, bore this cruel treatment 
with a cheerful mind and for the love of God. The cruel 
and unjust treatment only ceased when the wicked man 
himself recognized the sanctity of the youth. Gerard 
now besought God with fervent prayers and pious sup- 
plications, that He might make known to him His Holy 
Will as to what kind of vocation he should follow. It 
happened that the Eedemptorist Fathers came to Muro 
to conduct the exercises of a mission. Gerard recog- 
nizing their piety and virtue asked to be received among 
their number. On account of the poor health of the 
young man, the superior refused to accede to his wishes, 
which refusal Gerard bore with patience. But, finally, 



discarding the prayers and petitions of his mother, and 
firm in his resolve, he fled from home, and hastening 
to the Fathers "who were just departing after the close 
of the mission, he overtook them and again overwhelm- 
ing them with his prayers and petitions to be admitted 
as a member, the Superior finally, by the inspiration of 
Divine Providence, received him, and he was placed 
among the lay-brothers. Freed from all the cares and 
distractions of the world he now began his novitiate, 
and strove in the holy house of God, - the cloister, to 
advance in the way of sanctity. Appointed sacristan, 
he fulfilled his duties in a most perfect manner and 
spent whole hours, day and night, in adoration 
before the Most Blessed Sacrament. As Almoner he 
visited, on foot, the neighboring villages and environs, 
everywhere exhibiting the brightest examples of patience 
and charity. With the greatest patience and zeal for 
souls he strove to bring back the wicked from their evil 
ways, and with glowing words to exhort them to the 
practice of virtue and piety ; to the sick and poor he 
rendered all possible assistance. Nor were his labors 
in vain, for very many were brought back to the path 
of virtue and integrity of morals. Filled with the spirit 
of God, he seemed to be actuated by divine rather 
than human power, and hence he was commonl}- called 
an apostle. His novitiate being noAV over, he pronoun- 
ced his religious vows in 1752, on which occasion he 
returned most fervent thanks to God, promising, with 
the divine assistance, in the future to make still greater 
progress on the road to perfection. "When appointed 
janitor he exclaimed with joy on receiving the keys of 
the convent: "Behold the keys of paradise" — and the 
virtues which he practised in that position have cer- 
tainly merited for him the happiness of heaven. As 
porter, the Servant of God was most solicitous and exact 
in the observance of the rules and in the practice of 



PREF H B. XVII. 

fraternal charity. Ee often shared his own meals with 
others, imparting to them at the same time some timely 

advice, and encouraging them to place all theii ' hopes 

in their heavenly Father, Whogivetb to all abundantly. 
God Who loves the humble heart, was pleased to con- 
firm this admirable charity of Gerard by miracles. On 

account of the want of grain and the hard times, the 

inhabitants of that place were eking out a miserable 
existence. In order to relieve such a want, the pious 
servant of God opened the store-room of the convent, 
and gave to the needs the necessary assistance. The 
Superior of the convent being worried al this, repri- 
manded him; but wonderful t<> relate, the store-room 

was never empty and bread was never wanting in the 

dining-room. This marvelous event caused the servani 
of God to be held in high veneration and t<> be railed 
a saint. Wherever he went the people received him 

with joy; they looked upon him as one come from 
heaven, and they desired much to hear him speak. Al- 
though not a man of learning he was nevertheless enligh- 
tened from on high, and by his simple way of speaking 

could move the hearts and the minds of men ; he could 
moreover solve even the most difficult questions pro- 
posed to him. Already ripe for heaven, the end of his 
life was drawing near, and he himself foretold that he 
would soon die. Iu the month of June 1755 he was 
seized with a mortal illness; he made his confession, 
received the Holy Viaticum and Extreme Unction. 
When about to depart this life, suddenly raising himself 
he exclaimed: "Behold the Virgin is coming."" and 
seeing the mother of God who came to visit him, he fell 
into ecstasy, and like a seraph for a little while enjoyed 
the delights of heaven. Soon after, repeating again the 
Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, he peacefully rendered 
up his pure soul to God — at the age of 29 yrs. 7 mos. 
and 7 days. The fame of his sanctity which was spread 



XVIII. PREFACE. 

far and wide, was much increased by the miracles which 
God wrought through his intercession. For this reason 
the Cause of the life and virtues of the Venerable Ser- 
vant of God was brought before the most eminent Car- 
dinals of the Holy Roman Church of the Sacred Con- 
gregation of Rites, and all things having been submitted 
to a careful examination, Pius IX of blessed memory, 
on June 8th, 1877, pronounced the virtues of Gerard 
heroic. Later on, the miracles wrought through the 
intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, which 
confirmed his heroic virtues, were taken into account, 
and upon thorough examination four of them were de- 
clared authentic. We issued a decree as to their 
authenticity on March 25th of the past year. One thing 
still remained, namely, that the Most Eminent Cardinals 
of the aforesaid Sacred Congregation of Rites should 
be asked whether they thought it proper or opportune, 
to place the Servant of God among the Beatified, and 
in a general session held by us on April 26th of the past 
year, they all unanimously declared that the Process of 
Beatification could safely be begun. The event how- 
ever, being of such great importance, we hesitated until 
with fervent prayers we should ask the divine assistance. 
This having been done on the 8th day of September of 
the present year, the day consecrated to the Nativity 
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we solemnly decided 
that the cause of the Beatification of the Servant of 
God could safely be introduced. Therefore, in accor- 
dance with the most fervent petition of the clergy of 
the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, with the 
advice and consent of the aforesaid Congregation of 
Cardinals, by these apostolic letters, we hereby decree 
that the Venerable Servant of God, Gerard Majella, 
professed lay -brother of the Congregation of the Most 
Holy Redeemer should be henceforth numbered among 
the Beatified, and that his relics may be exposed for 



veneration t<> the faithiu] al large, and that hi-- pid 
may be surmounted with ermil 

the recitation of th< Office of the Venerable Servant and 
the Celebration of the Mass de Commune I 

>ris non Pontificis, with tin- Oration proper as ap- 
proved bj us according t<< the rubrics of the Mi 
and the Roman Breviary. The recitation of the Office 
and celebration of 1 1<>!; ! however permi 

only iii tin 1 cities ;mii! ill" 
in all ilu 1 chapels and churcl 
Congregation of the Mosi Holy Redeemer. I 
more, thai H0I3 Massmaj be celebrated in horn 
Beatified by all tin- clergj secular or regular, who hap- 
pen to sojourn in a place where the Eeasi of tin' B 
tied is commemorated. Finally, we hereby permit 
with tin' rousr; it of the ( Ordinary, theSolemnii 
Beatification of the Veaerable Servant of God, maybe 
celebrated with horj Mass and divine Office of double 
rite in all the aforesaid churches and chapels of the 
Congregation of the Mosi Boly Redeemer. This 1 
bration is to take place within the Bpace of 
after the Solemn Beatification of tin- Servant of G< 
has been celebrated by us in the Vatican Basilica. We 
wish, moreover, that copies of this apostolic in. 
duly signed by the secretary of the aforesaid S) 
Congregation of Kites and scaled with the seal of tin- 
Prefect of said Congregation, that such copies should 
enjoy the same amount of credence and authority as 
the original which was published by us. 

Given at St. Peter's, Borne, under the Fisherman's 
King, December 6th, 18U'2, the 15th of our Pontificate. 
Seraph Card. Yaxutelli. 



CHAPTEE I. 
The Hk.hly Favored Child. 
In Basilicata, a province of the kingdom of Naples, 
on ;i slope of the Appennines, in a most charming - 1 

lies the little, town <>t' Minn. A row of hills prote< 
from the rough storms of the north, while toward the 
south a vast smiling and fertile plain is stretched oul 

before it. At the time of which we write, ii had a 
population of seven thousand, and it was not only an 
Episcopal see, Imt gave shelter to a large cumber of 

monks and nuns. In tin' course of centuries there cann 

forth from this prett y little town many able men, who 
shed lustre on their native place by the Bplendoi of 
their piety, their reputation for learning, as well as by 
the laurels which they had won on the battle-field. 
Perhaps there was never born in Muroone 1 that was 
destined to become the joy of its native place in so 
extraordinary a manner as the child whose wonderful 
life we have undertakes to write. He was horn on the 
Oth of April, 1726, a and was baptized on the same day, 
in the cathedral, by the Archpriest Felix Coccicone. 

The Blessed Gerard Mary Majella may he said to 
be one of the grandest phenomena of the Church of the 
eighteenth century. 

He is in fact one of the purest and most cultivated 
flowers in the garden of the Catholic Church, one of tin >se 

!) Besides Gerard Maria Majella, we know only the Vener- 
able Dominic Gerardelli, a Conventual, the cause of whose 
beatification has been begun. 

-''Thus according to the acts in the process of beatification. 
According to the testimony of the present bishop of Muro, 
Monsignor Rafaele Capone this date does not agree with that 
given in the statistics. There the 23rd of April is given as 
the birthday of Blessed Gerard. 



22 THE HIGHLY FAVORED CHILD. 

great, incomprehensible souls, whose deeds, miracles, 
and life constitute an uninterrupted intercourse with 
heaven. He is one of those brilliant stars that appear 
from time to time in the firmament of the Church, and 
usually exercise a powerful and salutary influence over 
men whom the night of infidelity threatens to over- 
take. 

His cradle swayed in a very modest house. Gerard's 
parents, Dominic Majelia, who was a tailor by trade, 
and Benedicta Galella, were indeed rich in heavenly 
gifts, and highly esteemed by their townsmen for their 
virtuous lives ; but they were very poor in this world's 
goods, and were obliged to support four children, 
Bridget, Anne, Elizabeth and Gerard by the work of 
their hands. 

God provided most lavishly for Gerard, from the 
beginning of his life. He, as it were, put upon his 
first steps and movements the mark of His special and 
extraordinary predilection. His countenance always 
appeared sweet and calm, so that all persons gazed on 
him with pleasure. Among the first words that he uttered 
were the Holy names of Jesus and Mary ; and one of his 
first actions was to make the sign of the Cross on his 
forehead, mouth, and breast. 

When he was six years old, he was so intelligent and 
zealous in exercises of piety that one could have sup- 
posed him to be much older. In spite of his precocity. 
however, he preserved the tenderness and sweetness 
of his years. He did not like the amusements of chil- 
dren ; his recreation consisted in making little altars, 
which he adorned with flowers and pictures, in erecting 
small crosses, and in doing other similar things, by 
which, he wished to imitate the ceremonies of the Church. 
He took delight in singing hymns while gazing upon 
the pictures of God's chosen servants. Another enjoy- 
ment was to bend the knee, thus proving his constant 



Tin: HIGHLY FAVORED CHILD. 23 

communion with God. When be succeeded in obtain- 
ing fragments of w.i v from one of his relatives, who was 
sacristan of the cathedral, he made Little candles, which 
he burned on his altar. Sometimes li«' would gather 
children around him, lead them in procession and teach 
them to pray and sing. 
This highly favored child became bo fond of prayer, 

that he was able to devote whole hours to it. He was 

sometimes discovered in some hiding-place of his father's 
house, rapt in familiar intercourse with God, quite es- 
tranged from this world, like one transported to another 

sphere. When lie was with his mother at church, he 
knelt so quietly, so modestly, and bo devoutly, that he 
edified everybody and was looked upon by all persons 
as an angel from paradise. He was scarcely si\ years 
old when our Lord manifested Himself to him in a mosl 
Loving manner. 

Near the little town of Muro, at a distance <>f about 
half a mile, there is a small, solitary church, dedicated 
to our Lady of Capotignagno, which, in spite of the 
stony and rough road leading to it. was, and is even now 
a favorite resort of the faithful. In this church is vener- 
ated a small wooden statue representing the Blessed 
Virgin with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Gerard soon 
became acquainted and familiar with this popular sanct- 
uary, and felt himself powerfully attracted to it. One 
day he went there alone in order to relieve his glowing 
heart. Scarcely had he begun to pray, when it seemed 
to him that the Infant and His Mother on the altar be- 
came animated, and that the former stretched out His 
arms as if longing for his approach. In fact, a moment 
after, the Infant Jesus stood before him in all His heaven- 
ly loveliness, and with a smile invited him to play with 
Him. After a short time of most wondrous play, the 
Infant gave Gerard a loaf of tine, snow-white bread, and 
disappeared. The highly favored boy immediately ran 



2-4 THE HIGHLY FAVORED CHILD. 

home, and with an air of triumph showed the bread to 
his mother. \Vhen asked who had given it to him, he 
answered: "The dear little son of a beautiful lady gave 
it to me." 

Such an experience allowed the boy no rest ; thence- 
forth, he often hastened to the holy chapel of onr Lady 
of Capotignagno, as if a regular place of meeting had 
been agreed upon between himself and the wonderful 
child. In fact, he had the happiness of often seeing 
him, and of receiving from him presents of the same ex- 
cellent bread. This strange white bread which Gerard 
always brought home was so mysterious a gift, that it 
excited the curiousity of his mother and sisters and in- 
duced them to investigate the matter. The mother, and 
later his sister Anne, undertook the investigation and 
^ecretly followed him hurrying to church, where, while 
they quietly watched him, they witnessed a most mys- 
terious as well as a most touching spectacle. 

It appears that Gerard sometimes received bread not 
from the child, but from the Blessed Virgin. At least 
he expressed himself in a way that such a fact may be 
supposed. For when he again visited his f av< >iite church 
with his mother, he pointed to the statue of our Lady 
with the divine Infant and said: "See, mother, there is 
the noble lady who sometimes gave me bread, and there 
is the child with whom I used to play." 

A favor similar to that which he had received in the 
church of our Lady of Capotignagno, was also bestowed 
on Gerard in his favorite resort, the garden of the Arch- 
priest De Cillis. He had one day led a number of chil- 
dren to the garden, and while engaged in his devotion 
before a simple cross, made of pieces of wood rudely 
put together and fastened to an almond-tree, there 
suddenly appeared a brilliant light among the branches. 
So remarkable was this light that it was seen by many 
who were outside of the garden, although they saw 



I lii: inoim FAVORED OHILD. - 5 

nothing except the unusual light. Not so Gerard: he saw 
in the middle of this light the well-known, beautiful 
child, .- 1 1 1 * I tli.it he was coming down from the tree and 
moving towards him. The divine child having reached 
the ground came to him and gave him a piece of white 
bread, and Gerard ate it. 15m his mother who notice. 1 
tli.it <>n his return he did not wish to ea1 the food which 
Bhe had kept for bim, asked him for an explanation. He 
innocently said to her, "Mother I have already eaten; 
the child gave me some bread." 

When he attended the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, 
he also repeatedly noticed that the pries! held in his 
hands a beautiful child; and it was for him a very 
Btrange thing to sec the priest after breaking it in pi 
put it into his month and eat it. < )n one occasion after 
witnessing the same spectacle; he Baid in childlike won- 
der to the priest who had returned from the altar to 
the sacristj : "Ah! yon have don, something beautiful; 
indeed, you have eaten a little child." 

At that time Gerard did not as yet perfectly know 
who the child was that exercised bo powerful an in- 
fluence over him; but at a subsequent period these 

heavenly favors were made clear to him. Twenty years 
after these events he said with his usual simplicity to 
his sister Bridget, who had come to visit him when he 
had become a religious in the convent : "Now I know 
that it was the Infant Jesus AVho gave me the 1 'read 
wheu I was a child ; then I believed that He was a child 
like other children." "Well then," answered his sister 
jockingly, "come back to Muro some day in order to 
visit the Madonna of Capotignagno and to find the beau- 
tiful child." "No" said Gerard, "I need not go to Muro 
to rind the Madonna and her child ; now I can see them 
everywhere." 

This unmistakable sign of divine predilection inspir- 
ed his parents witlr the desire to bring up, as carefully 



26 THE HIGHLY FAVORED CHILD. 

as possible, the child whom they regarded as a divine 
treasure which had been confided to them. Benedicts 
who well knew, as she expressed herself, "that her son 
was created only for heaven," neglected nothing that 
might assise in developing in his heart the seeds of 
virtue. It was also not difficult to direct the education 
of a child who showed himself docile in all things, and 
who by nature was desirous to hear others speak of di- 
vine things rather than of things of this world. 

"When Gerard was seven or eight years old, he was 
sent to a school, over which Donato Spicci, a relative of 
his family, presided. Here he very soon learned how 
to read and write, and express himself with facility. In 
a short time he served as a model to his school-fellows, 
and became the favorite of his teacher. Spicci called 
him "the delight of his soul," and loved him with the 
tenderness of a father. The experienced master detect- 
ed very soon that the boy possessed the talent of in- 
structing others and of influencing them encoura- 
gingly. He therefore took pleasure in employing him 
to teach the smaller or weaker children the rudiments 
of knowledge. 

Gerard, however, always remained the simple and obe- 
dient child who was attentive to every command of his 
parents, rendering them the most exact obedience. In 
consequence of his wonderful intercourse with heaven, 
there were early developed in him an uncommon desire 
for mortifying his own body, and such a charity towards 
his poor neighbor that he was always ready to assist 
him. Hence, he frequently fasted on bread and water, 
and with this meagre fare was still so abstemious that 
it was a marvel how he could live at his tender age, 
when he was so much in need of proper nourishment. 
Many a day he did not break his fast, and not unfre- 
quently he forget entirely to take his meals, during three 
successive days. It often happened that his mother, who 



THE HIGHLY I LV0RED « IIILD. 27 

usually went out tn work early in tin- morning, found, 
on her return, thai the bread whioh she had left foi 
Gerard's dinner had not been touched, But the food 
thus saved and the bread which his mother oa asionallj 
bim, be generally distributed among the poor 
children. Nevertheless, he would nol refuse to 
when commanded bj his parents; for he was as free 
from self-will in regard to mortifying himself as he was 
in regard to all other things. This is the su 
that he was animated by 1 1 1 » - right Bpirit. Ee had so 
great a fea] of offending his parents, that if against his 
will and withoul his fault, offence was given, he 'in I all 
in his power bo make amends for the w i This 

also gave occasion to one of the first miracles that 
were wrought through him. The object of it 
little lamb which had been intrusted to Gerard's care 
and which disappeared one morning. After diligent 
search had been made, it was found out that thi< 
had stolen the Lamb and slaughtered it. A> the lamb 
was not the property of Gerard's parents and had only 
been confided to their safe-keeping, their grief was 
doubly great. Gerard was also greatly troubled, 
he could not bear to see the grief of his parents, be 
consoled them by saying : "Be sure, dear parents, 
lamb will return, the lamb will come back."' He the i 
began to pray, and firmly believed that God would aid 
him in his trouble and grant his petition. Soon after, 
the same animal that had been carried off and killed 
was actually restored to its owner; no one knew how 
such a wonderful thing had been accomplished. 

That this highly favored child entertained a most 
tender love for the Blessed Virgin can exeite no sur- 
prise, if we reflect on what has just been related. We 
have already heard that the holy name of Mary was 
one of the first words that were uttered by Gerard ; 
thus the love for the Mother of divine grace was, as it 



28 THE HIGHLY FA YOKED CHILD. 

were, born with kim. As he grew older, this love in- 
creased rapidly and became most ardent, especially 
since the Madonna of Capotignagno had begun to exer- 
cise so charming an influence over his soul. The reci- 
tal of the Rosary and other acts of devotion in honor 
of the Queen of heaven was easy and highly pleasing 
to him ; and her festivals, for which he prepared him- 
self by different pious exercises and works of penance, 
Avere for him happy days on which the members of his 
family saw him more joyful than usual, his eyes spark- 
ling with delight. But Mary on her part bestowed on 
her little client greater marks of her affection. It was 
during the time of his early youth that Gerard was 
enabled to see Caposele for the first time, Avhere at a 
later period, as a religious, he Avas to receive very many 
graces, and where he was to end his earthly career. 
His mother or a relative had taken him to this place to 
A'isit the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin, venerated 
under the title of "Mater Domini" (Mother of the 
Lord). While he Avas praying before the holy image, 
and Avhen he had offered the first salutation to our 
Lady, he fell into a very profound ecstasy — a most con- 
soling spectacle to all avIio Avere present. Perhaps she 
permitted him to taste of the joys which are prepared 
for those Avho persevere in their devotion to her, or she 
gave him the assurance of her aid and protection, in 
which he firmly trusted throughout his earthly career. 
From Gerard himself AA r e have received no explanation 
on this matter, as he concealed these mysteries unless 
obedience obliged him to speak of them, or his sim- 
plicity betrayed them. 

But if the Blessed Virgin rilled the heart of Gerard 
with the greatest joy and love, it may be imagined that 
this must haA^e been done in a higher degree as regards 
the Blessed Sacrament. To the Holy Sacrifice of the 
Mass the boA" hastened as other Ijoa'S hasten to their 



THE HIGHLY FAVOBED CHILD. 29 

most favorite games. As soon as tin- priest raised the 
consecrated host, he bent his body t<> the ground and 
remained in that posture for a long time; yet the live- 
liness of bis faith, which showed itself in his whole be- 
ing, as well as in his childlike simplicity, never permitted 
any one to discover in this unusual behavior anything 
unnatural or affected. When, at the communion of tin- 
priest, the sacred species disappeared, in which, as has 
been related, he saw tin- form of a beautiful child, he 
often burst into tears, occasioned by the mere thought 

that lie was as yet deprived <>f this heavenly food. He 

had an indescribable Longing for it, and to be refuse. 1 
when he asked the priest's permission to gratify this 
strong desire, was bitter and painful. But, one day, 
Gerard was then about eight years old, - he could no 
longer restrain this desire when he was hearing Mass 

at the cathedral, and saw the faithful about fco receive 
Holy Communion. Following, therefore, as it were, a 
divine attraction, he advanced to the altar and knelt 
with other persons who intended t<» receive Holy Com- 
munion. The priest, however, did not comply with his 
desire, and passed him by, as is usually done in the case 
of any child that perchance has made its way to the 
altar-railing. 

Sad, and bathed in tears, Gerard returned home, and 
as he could not hide his distress of mind, he expressed 
it to several of his intimate friends ; among them was 
a certain Emanuela Vetromile, a woman who loved him 
as her own son, and therefore endeavored, like a mother, 
to console him in his sorrows. Meanwhile, our Lord 
Himself undertook to bestow upon His faithful child 
the most efficacious consolation. The following night 
the boy saw an angel, whom he recognized to be his 
dearly beloved patron St. Michael, who gave him the 
divine food which the priest had refused him the day 
before. It is related that the very morning on which 



30 THE HIGHLY FA YOKED CHILD. 

tliis occurred, Gerard communicated it with all simpli- 
city to his dear friend Yetromile and cried out with 
great joy : "Yesterday the priest would not giYe me 
Holy Communion, and last night St. Michael gave it 
tO me." More probably, Gerard did not make known 
this wonderful experience until after he had become a 
religious ; that is, when he was obliged by obedience to 
give a true account of the special favors he had receiv- 
ed from God. On this occasion he also spoke of the 
event narrated above, and remarked that his extraor- 
dinary devotion to the Archangel St. Michael began at 
that time. 

This reception of Holy Communion from the hands 
of an angel seems not to have been the only one of the 
kind by which God gratified, in a marvelous way, the 
great desire of this favored child. One day a priest 
found him kueeliiig before the altar, and as this seemed 
to him very strange, he asked him what he was doing 
there. "A little child", he answered, "came out of the 
tabernacle and gave me Holy Communion." 

It is easy to think that such occurrences inflamed the 
heart of the little saint with love for the most Blessed 
Sacrament, ami with the desire to visit his hidden Lord 
as often as possible. "Come! let us visit Jesus Christ, 
our dear prisoner," he was often heard to exclaim Avhen 
the ringing of the "bells invited the faithful to visit the 
Blessed Sacrament. He would frequently slip away 
from the house during leisure hours, in order to hasten 
to the neighboring church of St. Mark where, without 
being disturbed, he could give vent to the feelings of 
his heart and devote himself to the exercise of contem- 
plation, — ■ a gift which was already manifesting itself. 
At last, when he was nearly ten years old, his desire 
for Holy Communion was heeded, and he was allowed 
by his spiritual director to receive the Blessed Sacra- 
ment. Naturally the day on which he made his First 



THE HIGHL1 FAVORED CHILD. 31 

Communion, was for him a da} of great joy. His in- 
aocent heart, already sanctified l>.\ mortification 
glowing with an ardent love, received its Lord with 
B uch dispositions that the Eucharistic food aot only 
aourished his bouI, but also caused him to feel its 
sweetness sensibly. 

After receiving Eoly Communion, the boy became 
quite immovable, as if in ecstasy, and during the 
thanksgiving which he madethe spectators viewed with 
pleasure the angelic glow which was Bees on bis 
countenance. Prom this time forward Gerard receiv- 
ed Holy Communion every second day. In order al- 
ways to approach this holy banquet with due prepara- 
tion, lie went to confession. To combine sacrifice with 
devotion he scourged himself with knotty cords which 
he had tied together. 



CHAPTER II. 

The Apprentice. 



About the time of his first Holy Communion or shortly 
after, Blessed Gerard met with one of those calamities 
which during mortal life must be expected; and yet, 
when it befalls us, gives as much pain as if it were un- 
foreseen. Death took away his good father and brought 
great destitution on the family. The widow Benedicta 
found that it was necessary to enable him, as soon 
as possible, to support himself and others of the 
household. She therefore apprenticed him to a tailor, 
that he might learn the trade of his father and become 
the support of the family. Of course, this event dis- 
pelled one of his pious dreams, for he had always 
thought of leaving the world and entering a convent in 
which be might, without hindrance, devote himself to 
the vocation to which he felt himself called. He had 
not the least inclination for a secular life. However, 
he was obedient and yielded without contradiction to 
his mother's wish, confident that God would dispose all 
things for the best. 

His conduct in the workshop of his master Martino 
Pannuto, was in every respect so exemplary, that his 
employer was carried away with love and admiration 
for his apprentice. Gerard devoted himself to his 
trade with assiduity, and showed himself tractable, 
attentive and docile. His interior recollectedness was 
not the least impaired. While his hand was busy 
with the needle his mind was with God and engaged 
in divine things; while more than once it happened that 



THE APPRENTICE. 33 

on account of his absent-mindedness the work was inter- 
rupted. However, his master was too pious a man to 
be displeased by such interruptions. < >n the contrary ,he 
allowed him to perform exercises of piety according t<> 
his wish, and rejoiced to have an apprentice \\li<> was 
a saint. He also learned by experience that Gerard al- 
ways made up easily by quick work the time thai had 
been lost by those interruptions. Moreover, Gerard's 
Bpirit of sacrifice and mortification, ^> rarely found in 
youth, only inspired him with the greatest confidence. 
Pannuto often worked until Late in the night, and on 
these occasions the delicate boj was always at his side. 
The latter, who could Dot return home after his master 
had finally left the workshop, owing to the late hour <.t 
the night, would rest his wearj limbs on the bare floor. 
When Pannuto noticed that Gerard did not use the bed 
prepared for him and questioned him in regard to the 
matter, he received the answer thai for one who was 
a mere apprentice, the couch that he had chosen was 
better than a soft bed. 

But quite different from the disposition of Pannuto 
was that shown towards the servant of God by the fore- 
man of the workshop, a brutal, unprincipled man. The 
piety of Gerard was a thorn in his sight, and excited in 
his bosom a feeling of hatred. Every moment which the 
saintly apprentice spent in the church or in saying his 
prayers, the foreman believed to be an unwarrantable 
loss of time, that should be devoted to work; and on 
account of what he called Gerard's sloth and aversion 
for work, he daily heaped on him all kinds of abuse 
and reproaches. This was not all. Often the man be- 
came so enraged that he struck the l>oy with list clinched 
and trampled on him. Gerard bore everything with 
great patience. Sometimes he said to himself: "My 
God! My God! Thy holy will be done;" and fre- 
quently, when the longing for suffering took stronger 



34 THE APPRENTICE. 

hold of him, he cried out to his tormenter : "Keep on 
striking me, you have indeed reason to do so." To com- 
plain of such treatment never entered his mind, though 
he would have been justified in doing so, and his master 
would, without doubt, have protected him ; on the con- 
trary he sought rather to conceal these things from him. 
On one occasion, after the ruffian had been beating him 
in a most cruel manner, so that Gerard fell to the floor, 
Pannuto entered the room. Seeing his apprentice in 
so pitiable a condition, he naturally asked his foreman 
for an explanation about what had happened. As the 
latter, however, on the one hand, could not say anything 
to justify himself, and on the other, knew that he could 
count on Gerard's silence, he briefly answered that Ger- 
ard would be better able to say what had befallen him. 
Pannuto then turned to Gerard and questioned him ; 
but the servant of God, whose heart was as noble as it 
wtis truthful, said with holy simplicity : "Master, I fell 
down near the table." Thus, while making known the 
truth, though only half of it, he satisfied the inquirer, 
and at the same time spared the guilty foreman. 

Such magnanimity did not, however, subdue the ruf- 
fianism of his enemy. The acts of brutality toward the 
poor apprentice were continued, and all the manifesta- 
tions on his part of nobility of heart, as well as of the 
most sublime virtues, could not protect Gerard against 
them. "When the latter, on one occasion, seemed plea- 
sed and began to laugh after receiving a blow which the 
foreman had given him with his fist, he was struck most 
unmercifully with a piece of iron, which the man had 
seized in his fury. The pain which he felt and which 
might have deprived him of consciousness, could not 
disturb his charity, so that as soon as he had recovered 
from the blow, he threw himself at the feet of his tor- 
menter, and said with great meekness : "I forgive you 
for the love of Jesus Christ." and then applied himself 



i hi: \iti;i.\ i [l E. 35 

to his work as if nothing had happened. Thai Gerard 
laughed when he was ill-treated, did not proceed Eroni 
a sense of mockery, as one might have believed, but it 
was the result of a reflection, which at such a moment 

is as rare, as it is worthy of a saint. Il«' hims< It' found 

an opportunity of giving an explanation of tlii-- matter. 

Saving one da j returned home ratlin' late from his 
favorite church of < iapotignagno, he was assailed as us- 
ual with every kind of insult ami abuse, ami anally 
beaten. He was silent ami began to smile, which so 
asperated the ruffian that ho cried out: "Yen arc laugh- 
ing! tell me instantly why you are laughing." "1 Laugh," 
answered Gerard, "because God's hand strikes me." 

How long the persecution of the innocent apprentice 
lasted, is not know it. God, Who thereby oily wished 

to try His servant and prepare and purify him for 

greater favors, took cue that it should cease iii proper 
time, and so arranged matters thai Pannuto, who had 
certainly noticed the hatred which his foreman bore 
towards the apprentice, but could not make up hi^ mind 

to dismiss him, was finally induced to do SO. Without 

Gerard's knowledge, he one day followed him to church 
and watched the conduct of the apprentice in prayer. 
He might indeed have expected that he would be edified, 

buthe was to he the witness of a scene which usually 
moves the religious spectator prof oundly and tills him 
with the highest degree of respect and veneration. Alter 

the boy had prayed for a long time, he lay prostral 
the floor of the church and kissed it ; then, while mov- 
ing forward on his knees, he at the same time touc 
his tongue to the ground till he reached the foot of the 
altar. 1 ' Here he was again rapt in prayer, which be- 

1) This exercise of penance was not unusual in Southern Italy. It 
was practised chiefly by persons who were anirrated by a very ardent 
faith, for the purpose of atoning for sins of the tongue; it was also per- 
formed by those who, possessing a lively imagination, strongly desired 
by means of these signs of humility and contempt to express in a very 
sensible manner the affections of their heart. 



3G THE APPRENTICE. 

came more and more ardent, until finally lie fell into 
an ecstasy, and remained immovable and lost in God. 
Being greatly affected by what he had seen, Pammto 
left the church. He knew now that his little apprentice 
was in high favor with God, and he no longer dared to 
tolerate in his house a man who did not fear to treat 
contemptuously and to consider as an outcast a youth 
so highly privileged by the Almighty. 

The patient endurance of the ill-treatment received 
at the hands of the foreman was not the only example 
of heroic virtue which Gerard gave during his stay at 
the house of Pannnto, and of which we have received 
information. Pannuto's son, Joseph Anthony, at a later 
day, often related another incident of which he himself 
had been an eye-witness, and which affords no less 
proof of how deeply and firmly the virtue of patience 
was rooted in the boy's heart. Pannnto had on one 
occasion sent him to his vineyard to do some work, and 
Gerard after finishing it went for a moment to the sanct- 
uary of Capotignagno, which was not very far distant. 
While returning to the city he crossed the fields and 
unfortunately approached a thorn-hedge on which some 
birds had alighted. These birds were eagerly pursued 
by a sportsman who closely lay in wait for them. Ger- 
ard, by his approach frightened the birds awa}', and 
thus bitterly disappointed the sportsman. Unable to 
control his anger, the latter rushed foward unexpected- 
ly struck the saintly youth a violent blow in the face. 
When ordinary mortals are sui-prised, their virtues, es- 
pecially those of patience and meekness are usually 
overcome ; but this was not the case with Gerard. Be- 
coming immediately recollected, and being mindful of 
the teaching of the Gospel, he delayed not in fulfilling 
it to the very letter, and at once offered his other cheek. 
But the angry sportsman, who very likely at this mo- 
ment did not think of the Gospel, and who thought 



THE IPPREOT [< r. 37 

that this act of humility was but insolent mockery, be- 
came still more excited and continued to ill-treat his 
Bupposed insulter. Fortunately, at this time, Pannuto'a 
son came upon the scene, and having made the neces- 
sary explanation he was able to pacify the infuriated 
man. In this he succeeded so well that the sportsman 
not only began to conceive the highest esteem for this 
boy, who was capable of practising so much virtue, lint 
wherever he went, became the zealous panegyrist of 
of the virtuous apprentice. 

If anything could vie with the wonderful patience 

which Gerard allowed to shine forth during his appren- 
ticeship, it was his willingness to perform any labor at 

the command or desire of another. When at home he 
regarded the will of his parents as the will of God, and 
now he so regarded the will of his master. Pannuto 
only needed to manifest his wish and the boy flew, as 
it were, to fulfil it; on more than on.' occasion people 
could not help taking it for granted, that God gave 
wings to (lerards obedience, with which even the strong- 
est will could not have supplied him, so marvelous was 
the promptness he showed when he fulfilled what had 
been commanded. 

One evening in autumn, when the grapes were ripen- 
ing, Pannuto went with Gerard to the vineyard at 
Boccaporta, in order to watch during the night and 
protect his fruit from thieves. "While preparing the 
lamp which was to burn during the night, he found 
that there would not be sufficient oil. Gladly would he 
have sent for some to his own house, but he did not wish 
to fatigue the boy, who would have been obliged to 
undertake a rather long journey in the darkness of the 
night. Yet scarcely had Gerard remarked the perplex- 
ity and the wish of his master than he started of his 
own accord for the oil and came back in so short a 



38 THE APPRENTICE. 

time, that Pammto doubted whether the boy had ob- 
tained it at his house in Hiiro. But, as the apprentice 
asserted that it was there that he had received it, he 
felt obliged to ascribe this astonishing celerity solely 
to a special help of God Who thereby wished to re- 
ward the boy. 

At another time, it was the wife of Pammto who was 
wonderfully assisted by a service quickly performed by 
Gerard. She had sent her husband's dinner to the 
vineyard where he was at work, and had forgotten to put 
a fork into the basket. Though this oversight was trif- 
ling, the good woman feared the displeasure of her hus- 
band and became greatly agitated and confused. Ger- 
ard noticing this consoled her, saying: "Be of good cheer, 
I will take the fork to your husband." He then set out, 
and although the servant had left the house long before. 
he reached Boccaporta at the same time, and was able, 
at the right moment, to rectify the mistake. 

This surprising quickness in the performance of his 
duties was not the only sign by which Gerard's gift of 
miracles was made known in Pannuto's house. 

Of the several other wonderful occurrences, of which 
this family was witness we shall mention only the fol- 
lowing : 

One night Gerard was to watch with Joseph Pannuto 
in the previously mentioned vineyard. In order to 
Avhile away the time that was becoming tedious the 
pious apprentice took some reeds and rushes out of 
which he made a simple cross and said his prayers be- 
fore it. Then he lighted a reed and walked with it as 
with a torch around the bundle of straw which was to 
serve as his bed, and chanted the Miserere. 

Suddenly the straw caught tire. He came to himself 
onlv after an outcry of vounc; Pannuto, who seeing the 



Tin: \ri'i;r\i [i i . 39 

danger, burst into tears and said : "Oh nrhai have you 
done, what bave yon done!" I>ut Gerard quickli said: 
"It is nothing; it is nothing ;" and making the sign oi 
the Cinss, struck at the flames and quenched it a1 
the moment when a general conflagration threatened. 



CHAPTEK III. 

At The House Or The Bishop Of Lacedogna. 



The feast of Pentecost A. D. 1740 occurred during 
the time when Gerard was busy in the workshops of 
Pannuto and was of the greatest importance for the 
pious youth, abounding as it did in the choicest graces. 
On this festival June 25th — he knelt in the chapel of 
the poor Clares at Muro before the bishop of Laced- 
ogna, Monsignor Claudius Albini, who had been dele- 
gated by the diocesan bishop, Melchior Delphico, to 
administer the sacrament of Confirmation. In the soul 
of the child that had already most faithfully employed 
the graces received in Baptism, the sacrament which 
completes and perfects Baptism, must naturally 
have borne fruit in the fullest measure. Hence 
the Holy Ghost, now became the master of the move- 
ments and aspirations of Gerard's heart. From this 
time forward he entertained an especially tender devot- 
ion toward the Holy Ghost, — a devotion which con- 
tinued till the end of his life ; and of the fervor of 
which, those who became his brethren later, used to 
narrate the most touching traits. "No day passed," 
these are the very words of a narrator — "not even an 
hour, during which Gerard did not invoke the aid of 
the Holy Ghost; and this was not omitted whether he 
himself needed good advice, or if others asked him to 
give it. On the feast of Pentecost he was seen to have 
so joyful and glowing a countenance, that he was like 
one who is unable to repress the delight that is inward- 
ly moving him. The days preceeding this festival he 
spent in penance, by fasting on bread and water, by 



AT THK BOUSE OP THE BIBHOP OF LAOEDOONA. 41 

scourging himself , and similar mortifications ; and he 
prepared himself for this day with so much terror, thai 
it seemed he would be able, with the fire that inflamed 
him, to enkindle even the mosl t * - 1 • i » 1 soul, if it had ap- 
proached him." 

One of the principal fruits resulting from his recept- 
ion of tin' sacrament of Confirmation, was evidently 

the vehement and more decided yearning for the relig- 
ious life, as well as the Longing for the time when he 
might devote himself in as perfect a manner as possible 
to the service of God. Soon after, he made his first 

attempt to he admitted into a OOnvent; he was nn- 

successful because the time in which he was to com- 
plete his sacrifice in conformity with God's holy will, 
had not yet arrived. 

in the neighborhood of Muro, the Capuchin Fathers 
occupied a small convent, called San Bienna. ( >n this 
convent Gerard had set his heart; for he was not only 
pleased with the simplicity, humility and seclusion 
reigning in this house, but he hoped that he would 
more easily gain admission there than elsewhere, be- 
cause one of its inmates, Father Bonaventure, a learned 
and much esteemed theologian was Ids uncle. He there- 
fore presented himself to the Father Guardian of the 
convent, and begged to be admitted among the novices. 
The Superior, however, could not make up his mind to 
receive him even on trial, either because he did not put 
much faith in the stability of the young man's resolut- 
ions and ascribed this request to the pressure of pi rverty 
and a desire to rind employment, or to an exaggerated 
piety rather than a true vocation ; or perhaps he did 
not think him strong enough for the religious life on 
account of his delicate frame and appearance. In re- 
fusing Gerard's request, the Father Guardian men- 
tioned this last objection. Greatly disheartened by 
this disappointment in his hope of ever working our 



42 AT THE HOUSE OF THE BISHOP OP LACEDOGX A. 

his salvation within the sacred walls of a convent, he 
was about to leave the house ; but, in order to console 
him in some measure and to give him at the same time 
a suitable alms, his uncle, Father Bonaventure, made 
him a present of a new coat. To the heart of the young 
man, who usually thought more of the poverty of others 
than of his own, this gift was a consolation only in so 
far as it would enable him to console another who 
might be in want. Gerard had scarcely left the con- 
vent when a wretched beggar, clad in rags met him, and 
in most piteous tones besought an alms. The request 
for help had not to be repeated for it was asked of one 
who had just met with affliction, and who was therefore 
doubly inclined to perform an act of charity. Gerard 
quickly took off the new coat which Father Bonaven- 
ture had given him and presented it to the poor man. 
This act did not remain hidden ; it was made known 
in the Capuchin convent, and Gerards uncle, as we may 
easily suppose, was not entirely satisfied with the great 
liberality shown by his nephew. He sent for him, and 
made him feel his displeasure by a severe reprimand. 
The young man listened to the rebuke with great 
humility, but deemed it his duty to say a word in self- 
defence. "Ah! my dear uncle," said he, "do not be 
angry with me ; you did not see how naked the poor 
man was to whom I gave the coat, and how ninth more 
he needed it than I ; had you seen him he would have 
moved you to the same act of charity." These were 
words that so strongly suggested the memory of the 
saint of Assisi, and were spoken so much in accordance 
with his spirit, as not to permit Father Bonaventure 
to say anything in reply. The Capuchin was silent, 
being edified by the behavior of his nephew, whose 
soul was animated by sentiments so holy and so noble. 
Though Gerard had been unsuccessful in his efforts 
to begin a life of self-denial and of sacrifice in the sil- 



\ i i in: HOUSE OF THE BISHOP OF LACEDOGH \. 

ance of a convent, yel bis BebSsaorifioing bouI found 
Mill'.,;. I compensation in the manj opportunities b 
mm i to practise these virtues ii. a heroic degree. It 
was a year after his confirmation when Gerard was 
aske I ! \ the bishop of Laoedogna to become a servant 
in his house. 

Monsignor Claudius Aibini had become acquainted 
with Gerard and Learnl to esteem him, not only when 
he administered the sacramenl of Confirmation in the 
ohapel of the Poor Clares, where the singular devotion 
ju nl piety of the youth had made a favorable imprec 
on him, but H was far more the good reputatioi thai 
spread throughout the city in regar 1 to the young tailor 
thai induced him to make oh< ice of Gerard. Being b 
native of Muro he had heard, aoi without interest, of 
the boy's wonderful life, of his virtues, his piety, his 
humility, his unalterable patience and liis unexampled 
obedience. Bearing all this from the lips of those who 
were able to watch the young man. as well as t<> form 
an opinion of him, he could not doubt the truth of what 
had been reported. He became very anxious to admit 
his saintly countryman into his house, and to have him 
as much as possible near him. In fact, the good inf- 
late needed a saint to be his servant. Even those per- 
sons who are otherwise excellent, whom God employs 
in His church to do many of His great works, often have 
faults which, under certain circumstances gradually he- 
come unbearable. To this class belonged Monsignoi 
Aibini. He possessed so lively a disposition, was of 
so passionate a temper, that he often became enraged 
on account of the most trifling things; and then the 
treatment of his subjects was so harsh that they were 
not only grieved and humbled, but became embittered 
and discouraged. Hence there was a continual change 
of servants in his house, and no one was willing to 
enter the service of this ill-tempered master. "When 



•14 AT THE HOUSE OF THE BISHOP OF LACEDOGNA. 

the proposal which liad been made to Gerard became 
known, some of his friends hastened to dissuade him 
from engaging in such service by depicting in lively 
colors the daily drudgery to which he, who Mas so 
simple-hearted, would expose himself. But for Gerard, 
there was nothing that attracted him more than what 
they advanced in order to prevent him from accepting 
the offer. He joyfully consented, and exchanged Muro 
for Lacedogna, the tailor's workshop for the bishop's 
house. 

Here he had to be the soul of the household ; now 
he would be busy in the kitchen, again he would be at 
work in the rooms of the prelate, who, as he was not 
wealthy, had to restrict himself to what was absolutely 
necessary. But, wherever Gerard performed his work 
he showed zeal and assiduity and was extremely care- 
ful not to give his master any occasion for complaint, 
and not to excite his nervousness. True, he was not 
always successful in his efforts ; in spite of all his care 
and readiness to serve he had to endure complaints, 
scolding and humiliation ; and, much as Monsignor 
loved the pious servant in the innermost recesses of his 
heart, he yet overwhelmed him with most vexatious 
commands, and threatened to dismiss him from his ser- 
vice for trifling mistakes. On these occasions, the ser- 
vant of God could be seen standing before hi3 irate 
master with that amiable humble cheerfulness which is 
the fruit of meekness that holds in check and absolutely 
deadens every passion. He said not a word, but with 
eyes modestly cast down waited till the storm blew over. 
Then he continued to work without showing the least 
displeasure, as if no trouble had occurred, and a re- 
petition of worry was not expected. Such was his 
humble and childlike disposition, that the thought of 
leaving his irascible and passionate master never enter- 
ed his mind. When others, who were astonished at 



AT THE BE OF THE i' SHOP 0] LA( EDOGN \. fcO 

tliis power of endurance, asked him how he was able to 
bearwith the repulsive manners of this prelate who bad 
driven bo manj predecessors from the house, he usually 
excused bis master and ascribed all the blame to his 
own awkwardness. "Monsignor loves me," In- said; "1 
shall serve him with pleasure as long as he lives. 
Such sentiments were sufficient to suggesi to the in- 
habitants of Lacedogna th<' thoughi that, in the new 
servant, a great saint had been given t<> them. Besides, 
they also saw thai he w*s Leading a \«-i\ austere lit''-, thai 
he was practising the rarest virtues, and that he was 
in all things very superior to other persons. 

In the episcopal house at Lacedogna, Gerard lived 
like a monk in his hermitage. The practices of piety 
to which li«' had accustomed himself in former days 
were continued with the greatest fervor, and they un- 
derwent only such changes as were required bj his in- 
creased and enlightened virtue. Every morning he re- 
mained before the altar either to assist at the Holy 
Sacrifice of the Mass or to receive Soly Communion; 
and if during the day he had any Bpare moments he 
also employed them in visiting the Blessed Sacrament. 
This so edified the people, that they not only praised 
the devout young man, but cried out: "() happy Ger- 
ard! he is a great saint!" (Beato Gerardo che <■' on 
gran santo!) and many, following his example, often 
visited the Blessed Sacrament during the day. 

In regard to food, Gerard was as formerly, exceed- 
ingly moderate and austere. Dry bread and vegetables 
were considered by him sufficient; and whenever he 
received better food from the table of his employer, 
he gave it to the poor or carried it to the sick whom he 
greatly loved, as the suffering members of Christ. During 
his stay at Lacedogna he had poor health and fre- 
quently suffered great pain, which he however bore with 
the patience and joy peculiar to himself, and which he 



46 AT THE HOUSE OF THE BISHOP OF LACEDOGXA. 

even tried to increase. Dr. Dominic Lamorte one day 
met Gerard, and as lie looked remarkably pale and ema- 
ciated lie asked liim about Iris health. "My dear sir, I 
am very well," answered Gerard. Of course this ans- 
wer did not satisfy the doctor; lie thought that he could 
not be very well, and began to examine his breast. He 
then saw that the poor young man wore a hair-shirt, 
so that easy breathing was either impossible or very 
difficult. 

At Lacedogna, however, the esteem of the people for 
the saintly young man increased day by day and was 
heightened still more by an event of which many per- 
sons of the place were witnesses. The bishop had one 
day left the house to take a walk outside of the city, 
and Gerard, who was about to fetch water from a well 
near by, locked the door and took the key with him. 
Accidently, the key slipped from his hand and fell into 
the water as he was stooping near the edge of the well. 
The poor servant stood for a few moments, speechless, 
before the well; he knew the disposition of his master, — 
that he would become greatly vexed if on his return he 
could not enter the house, and learned what had hap- 
pened. After having implored heaven for help, he 
hastened to the cathedral, whence he returned with a 
small statue of the Infant Jesus, which was usually ex- 
posed for the veneration of the people during the 
Christmas holidays. 

A considerable number of people who, from a motive 
of curiosity, had gathered around the well, looked with 
astonishment at the servant of the bishop, neither 
knowing nor conjecturing what he was going to do with 
the little statue of the Infant Jesus. He took one of 
the ropes of the well, and having fastened it to the 
statue, lowered it to the bottom, and in the meantime 
addressed in a loud voice the following words to the 
Infant which fright and his simple confidence suggested 



at THE I lot si: OF mi: BISHOP OF LACEDOGNA. 17 

to him: "0 my little ohild! my little child! gel 
th.it kc\ ; () help me to gel the key, bo thai Monsignor 
iii,i\ not be angry when be reaches home!" D 
expectation all looked towards the statue which Gerard 
bad, after a short bime drawn to the Burface ; the greal 
er number of them, perhaps, with the feeling with 
which we usually regard the issue of an affair that we 
think will disappoint some one's hopes and make his 
heart ache. ;et \er\ great was their astonishment, and 
transported with joy was Gerard, when the looked-for 

key was seen ii. the bands of the Infant JeSUS, .Hid the 

confidence of the pious servant was rewarded in so 
wonderful a manner. Then Gerard carried back t < » 1 1 1 • 
cathedra] the statue of the Infant Jesus in triumph ; 

The report of this miracle spread throughout the city 
and to the well the name PozZO < ierardielh i (Gerard's 

Well) an appelatioD that the ] pie of Lacedogna em- 
ployed for more than a hundred years. 

On the 25th of June 1744, after Gerard bad been 
for three years in the service of the bishop of Lacedog- 
na, the latt IT lied and his faithful servant was among 
those who greatly mourned the loss of his friend and 
master, am! grieved for him with the feelings of a son. 
He often said : ''Alas! I have lost my best friend ; Mon- 
signor really loved me." His lively faith made him en- 
tirely forget the rough exterior of his master's charac- 
ter, while the love for Gerard which the Monsignor 
really entertained in his heart, was never effaced from 
his memory and made him resolve always to couut him 
among those friends and benefactors whom he vener- 
ated. 

Gerard now returned to his native place ; he was 
eighteen years old. The desire to enter a convent re- 
asserted itself with increasing fervor and induced him 
to apply again to the Capuchins ; again his recpiest 
was unheeded. It is true, he had grown older while at 



48 AT THE HOUSE OF THE BISHOP OF LACEDOGNA. 

Lacedogua, but he had also become more austere, and 
the paleness of his face and the emaciation of his whole 
body, in consequence of his austerities, were no recom- 
mendation for the young man. He was supposed to 
be sickly, and too weak to keep the strict rule of the 
Convent, and was told that there could be no question 
of admission. 

Grieved at the second failure of his design, but not 
discouraged, he yielded to Divine Providence and again 
resumed his trade in his native country. Circumstances 
did not permit him to begin business for himself, there- 
fore he entered the service of "Vitus Monnona until he 
was able to retire to his mother's house and establish a 
workshop for himself, about the latter part of 1745. In 
the house of Monnona he fared very well ; he was loved 
as one of t}ie family, and all esteemed him as a saint. 
They had heard of the marvelous life of the youthful Ger- 
ard which filled them with the highest esteem for him, 
while almost daily recurring signs of grace and sanctity 
contributed much to require their respect. One day 
Monnona's wife, or his mother, witnessed the extraor- 
dinary efficacy of Gerard's prayer. 

About a mile from the city was the little river San 
Maffeo, whither Monnona's wife had gone to wash some 
clothes, accompanied by Gerard who was always very 
obliging. Later in the afternoon a heavy rain inter- 
rupted the work, and obliged them to seek shelter under 
a thatched roof. As it was growing dark and the rain 
did not cease, but the sk}" became still more overcast, 
the anxious woman wept and lamented because she 
could not return to town, which circumstance distressed 
Gerard very much. 

His simple faith, or rather that innate confidence 
peculiar to souls upon whom God bestows the gift of 
miracles, soon suggested a means. Stepping into the 
open air he raised his hands towards heaven and cried 



AT THE BOUSE OF THE BISHOP OF LA( I DOONA. 49 

out with childlike confidence and in humble supplica- 

tion: "Dear Lord, what shall we do, to get home?" 
Scarcely had he uttered these words when the rain 
ceased, the sun broke through the clouds and tin- two 
returned home without difficulty. 

Years after, old Monnona spoke with enthusiasm ■(' 
his pious apprentice and never tired of extolling his 
obedience, mildness and compassion for the destitute, 
particularly for the poor souls in purgatory. Bfonnona 
was equally lavish in dilating upon many other virtues 
of which Gerard gave most excellent proof during his 
stay with his employer. 

When the youth was a Lay-brother of the Co] 
tiou in Caposele, Bfonnona visited him several times to 
be edified by his holy life, to receive comfort and coun- 
sel from his own lips, and to recommend himself bo hi- 
pious prayers. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Gerard Becomes Foolish For The Love Of God. 



The business in which Gerard had engaged toward 
the close of 1745 "was prosperous; he had work to do, 
not only at Muro, but he also received orders from 
Castelgrande, a neighboring village. All loved the 
pious and modest young tailor ; for even though many 
could not understand his quiet and reserved manner, 
and might have looked upon him as eccentric and as 
going to excess, yet no one could urge any well ground- 
ed complaint against him. He was kindness itself, and 
ever ready to render service. He was extremely pat- 
ient, never quarrelled nor disputed with those who 
opposed him, and what pleased every one was his con- 
scientiousness in business transactions. In this he 
went so far as never to keep the most trifling thing 
that had been entrusted to him. Some one testifies: 
"He never retained even a piece of thread which did 
not really belong to him." Withal, his prices were low, 
and he often worked for the poor, of whom he asked 
no payment. Frequently while he was performing 
these charitable acts, God came to his assistance in a 
wonderful manner. It once happened that a poor man 
brought him material out of which he was to make him 
a new garment, but of which there was evidently not 
sufficient for the purpose. Gerard however accepted 
it, and after some time carried to his customer not only 
the new garment which had been ordered, but a part 
of the material, which had been left. The material 
therefore seems to have grown in his hands as a reward 
of his charity. Xot only a large part of his labor, but 



1,1 i; \i;i> r.i.i OMES FOOLISH FOB THE l."\T. OF 00 

also a large share of bis earnings were given bj the 
kind-hearted workman to his beloved poor, whom b< 

usually called "the | c of Christ." He divided his 

earnings into severa] parts, one of which was given to 
the poor; sometimes h< gave them more, so thai he 
himself suffered hunger thai be mighl appease the hun- 
ger Of others. 

Among the "poor of Christ" whom hi^ charity cu 
him to support so carefully, he counted nol onrj tl 
who were in need of dailj bread and who were obli 
to lead a life of privation, bul also the faithful departed 
who "were not able to pay "the lasl Earthing" which 
must be paid before the gates of heaven arc opened to 
them. Gerard considered it a sacred <lut\ to 
those poor souls in their spiritual distr< ss \<\ meai 
his temporal gains. "Alas!' - he often said, "the souls 
in purgatory are so very poor, and they call on us foi 
help." He frequently - some have said regularrj 
a week— had the sacrifice of the H0I3 Mass offered for 

them, and at times he was seized with such Compassion 

that he endeavored to practise this act of charifrj to a 
greater extent. On one occasion he received as Ids 
wages for one week's work eight gold pieces. This was 
his entire earning. Nevertheless he sacrificed all this 
money for the same purpose — for the redemption of 
those poor prisoners in purgatory. During the follow- 
ing week he had to fast, or to appease his hunger with 
dry bread. 

Gerard's mother, it is true, was satisfied with his 
charity towards the poor, and he never gave alms with- 
out her permission. But she was more frugal and pru- 
dent in the management of a household than her son, 
and could not approve of a prodigality that entirely 
forgets one's own wants and knows nothing about 
economy. Hence she often approved him on this ac- 
count ; for she wished him to remember his condition 



52 GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

of life and to be mindful of the future. Bui what did 
the servant of God understand about such things? The 
birds of the air, that God feeds, and the lilies of the 
field which He clothes, seemed to him to be move, 
worthy of imitation than those persons who are so much 
concerned about their future welfare. "O my dear 
Mother," he said to her when she brought forward her 
usual arguments, "God will provide for me, for to Him 
who trasts in God nothing will be wanting." 

The great charity which Gerard entertained for his 
fellow-men was only the natural result of the love of 
God which Avas glowing in his heart. This love had 
grown since the days of his childhood and had now at- 
tained that degree of intensity which generally paves 
the way for the joyful endurance of humiliations, for 
the patient carrying of crosses, and for simple and blind 
obedience. In the sad hours spent during his appren- 
ticeship and in the difficult service at Lacedogna, his 
love for God found abundant nourishment, with which, 
as a healthy plant, it was constantly and eagerly fed 
by means of its absorbent roots. Hence it began to 
blossom on all sides ; it brought forth most charming 
fruits and emitted a fragrance which delight the strong, 
but which was apt to sicken the weak-nerved and cause 
them violent suffering. Besides his work for God and 
his neighbor, prayer was his greatest delight. The place 
where the Divine Lover of souls in all the fulness of 
His love has taken up His abode was therefore his fav- 
orite resort, as often as his work left him leisure hours, 
and that obedience or charity did not require him to 
render services elsewhere. 

Early in the morning, at the cathedral, he heard sev- 
eral masses which he served when allowed to do so. 
He received Communion at least three times a week. 
The moment in which he had to separate himself from 
the holy tabernacle was for him as painful as the sep- 



GEBABD BECOMES FOOLISH FOR THE LOV] OF GOD. 53 

luation from a dear friend, and one could notice thai 
he had to do himself special violence to tear himself 
away. If, during the daj . he found any Leisure moments 
he again hastened to the church in order to visit our 
Lord, and there he would often become ecstatic, and 
be deprived of sensible power whenever the eyes of his 
soul happened to set- the depths <>f tin- power, the love 
and the mercy of God which are hidden from mortals 
at large. 

His most favorite time of prayer was the night. Then 
he was free from all earthly cares, and the noise of the 

world was hushed around him. Hon Tirico, the Bacris- 

tau of the cathedral, a relative, sometimes gave him the 
keys of the church, so thai he mighl without hindrance, 
make his nocturnal visits to our Lord in the Blessed 
Sacrament, a favor of which he always availed himself. 

A church dedicated to the Mother of God was the 
place of special devotion for Gerard. It was probably 
the church of St. Maria del Soccorso, which has now 
been brought within the city limits. Had the Blessed 
Sacrament been there he would certainly have prefer- 
red it to every other church. Still it was a favorite 
spot, a Paradise for him, where he would have spent 
entire days, had it been possible. Several times he 
stayed there two or three days in prayer and penance. 
A little bread was his food, and the bare floor his rest- 
ing place. 

Gerard edified Muro for a year in this manner, when 
he left this town, necessitated, or as it is said by others, 
requested to do so. 

The city officials had decided to tax his occupation ; 
on the other hand a certain Luca Malpiedi invited him 
to accompany him to San Fele, where he had estab- 
lished a private school for boys and was in need of a 
tailor. 



r>4 GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH FOB THE LOVE OF GOD. 

To avoid paying the heavy taxes, Gerard accepted 
the invitation. Towards the close of 1746, or in the 
beginning of 1747 he left Muro and went to San Fele. 
He had indeed escaped the heavy taxes but he became 
the victim of very disagreeable annoyances. 

Luca Malpiedi was, to say the least, no educator of 
youth; his school was a picture of disorder and dissol- 
ution. Gerard tried his utmost to give satisfaction, but 
as was to be expected, soon became the butt of the ill- 
mannered youths and of their ignorant master. 

During the six or eight weeks which he spent there, 
his patience was put to the test, which he, however he- 
roically survived. It was comparatively easy to endure 
the scon's and ridicule of the boys, but the ruffians ab- 
used him with blows besides ; in his unspeakable meek- 
ness he offered no resistance, save an occasional pathe- 
tic, "Won't you stop ?" 

The most astonishing was that Malpiedi not only re- 
fused him protection against the ill-treatment of his 
pupils, but even followed their example and tormented 
and beat the simple young man most barbarously. Not- 
withstanding all this, Gerard lost neither his equani- 
mity nor his cheerful temper ; on the contrary, he seems 
to have thirsted for new sufferings and contempt. His 
conduct shortly after supposes such a conclusion. 

In February, 1747, the servant of God was at home 
again. Soon after his return Lent began. Whether the 
reading of Fra Antonio Olivadi's meditations (Anno do- 
lorosa,) animated him, or whether his love of the Cru- 
cified had become more intensified — it is certain he 
had resolved that this Lenten season should be for him 
a time of penance and of suffering, in order thereby to 
render himself like unto his despised Redeemer. 

He multiplied his exercises of penance and added 
scourges to these tortures. The ordinary practices did 
not satisfy him. He frequently scourged himself till 



GERARD BECOMES FOOLIBE FOR THE LOVE OP GOD. 56 

die blood flowed, and in ordei bo make these chastise- 
ments more painful li<' prepared Bcourges out «»t wei 
and knotted, ropes. To guard againsi Belf-love be be- 
sought a certain Felix Palenza his special confidant to 
become liis torturer, who afterwards related the follow- 
ing: "When al his request I tied him to a pillar and 
most unmercifully Bcourged liis bare shoulders, he was 
greatly pleased and blessed me. Moved with compas- 
sion, I desisted, bu1 lie besought me t<> continue the 
favor, until at last the l>lo«.d flowed from his Bhoulders." 

Mr sometimes directed his friends t<> Buspend him 
from a beam with liis head downwards, and to burn 
greenwood, or rags, underneath. Bis sufferings thou 
were intense; the smoke had a scorching effect on his 
eyes and produced all tin- anguish of suffocation, while 
his face suffered from tin' terrible heat. I n Bpite of this, 
Gerard inhaled the ascending smoke with pleasure, re- 
membering those martyrs who endured similar torments 
for the love of God. "Ah!" he Bald, "we must Buffer 
something for Jesus Christ, Who Buffered so much for 
us." The excruciating pain caused by Bmoke and heal 
seems to have had for him a special attraction. Thus 
on oue occassion he was on a visit to a house in which 
some green brushwood was burning in the stove. This 
caused a very offensive and pungent odor. ( rerard knew 
no better place for himself than near the stove, ami al- 
lowed the smoke to pass by his face. When tin- mis- 
tress of the house noticed this she cried out to him : 
"What are you doing, Gerard? Why do you allow the 
smoke to annoy you ?" He answered smilingly and 
used the proverbial : "A belli occhi va il fumo. "Smoke 
is good for beautiful eyes." 

But these mortifications and scourgings seemed to 
the loving disciple of Christ to contain too little of self- 
annihilation, too little of the total destruction of self- 
love, to prove satisfactory to him. His love impelled 



56 GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

liira to go still farther and to perform an act of the 
most perfect self-denial, — an act which at first sight, 
without the consideration of its motives and its circum- 
stances, might almost be condemned. 

While considering that his loving Redeemer had gone 
so far in His voluntary humiliation that He allowed Him- 
self to be not only martyred and put to death, but to 
be mocked by the rabble as a fool and madman, it ap- 
peared to him that he should also endeavor to impose 
on himself this kind of suffering and should therefore 
pretend to be a lunatic. It was not a difficult matter 
for him to make this impression on a certain class of 
persons. Having been reared from his childhood in 
places which were situated far from the ordinary paths 
of the people of the world, his conduct appeared to 
them very odd and singular. His great patience, his 
unparalleled endurance when mocked and beaten, his 
silence amid the grossest insults, his flight from every 
youthful amusement, and his quiet demeanor, earned 
for him the reputation of being a heartless, narrow- 
minded, silly boy. Besides, the unnatural appearance 
which he occasionally assumed, his ecstasies, his ab- 
stractions from the things of the world, were regarded 
by the rough class of people as something quite incom- 
prehensible and even repulsive, and inspired them with 
the thought that Gerard was at least bordering on in- 
sanity, and that it would not be surprising if he really be- 
came insane. It was therefore not difficult for him to 
appear among them as really demented. Dissimulation 
on his part was unnecessary. All lie had to do was to 
exhibit his singular ways more than usually, as also 
his insensibility, which people ascribed to him as stup- 
idity. 

All this the servant of God accomplished, and thus 
obtained the result at which he aimed. Very soon 
people said : "What has been long expected has now 



OEBABD BECOMES FOOLISH BOB THE L01 I O] GK 

really occurred. The poor f anaticaJ tailor, Majella, lias 
become quite crazy 1" The better olass who could nol 
Bee through the deception, though they believed the 
report, fell great compassion for him; the malicious 
laughed at him and numbered him among those beings 
upon whom they might phvj tricks and whom they 
might turn into ridicule on ever} occasion, [ndeed, 
the heart of the young man, who was constantly thirst- 
ing for sufferings, was filled with joy when he saw him- 
self proclaimed and treated as an insane person, 

Hence, whenever be left the house he was subjected 
to all kinds of insults and even to cruel treatment. No 
Booner would he show himself in the streets than a crowd 
of children and grown-up boys would gather around 
him, and while yelling at the top of their voices, would 

attack him, throw mud at him, and pull him about or 

drag him along the road. "Fool ! fool!" were tin 1 words 

heard on all sides. "Ye8, V6S, a tool for tin' love of 

God," he would say; and those who did not understand 

the words, screamed still louder, Laughed and mocked 

him. With this treatment he was greatly pleased and 
hastened through the streets to Ins own house, never so 
satisfied and joyous as when he had a crowd of boys 
following him, throwing stones at him and Bhouting: 
"Ora si ritira il pazzo," "The fool is running away! 
the fool is running away!" 'That pleases me, I like 
that,"' lie was heard to say. 

"We must," he also said, "suffer all these torments 
if we wish to please our Lord. Who suffered so much for 
us." 

One day — it was in winter — his mother happened 
to meet him siirrounded be a crowd of laughing, mis- 
chievous boys. They had thrown him into the snow 
and actually buried him. The poor woman burst into 
tears at the sight, and could not restrain herself from 
bitterly upbraiding the tornienters of her most patient 



5b GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

son. Gerard, however, was radiant with joy. Some- 
times he even challenged the boys to ill-treat him and 
to amuse themselves at his expense. Having on one 
occasion come to Castelgrande, he met in Le Porte 
street a crowd of boys who were enjoying themselves 
and shouting while playing their games. They appear- 
ed to him to be mischievous enough to torment him. 
"Here boys!" he cried ont, "till now you have enjoyed 
yourselves, let u < now do something to please God." 
He then begged them to tie him and drag him through 
the streets. The hot-headed lads did not hesitate to 
agree to the proposal ; the crazy man had just come in 
time to afford them some amusement. They had gone 
scarcely a dozen yards when he bled profusely from 
his head and shoulders ; yet he did not wish them to 
stop, but asked them to drag him to the place they 
had fixed upon. The poor young man reached the spot 
in a most pitiable condition ;. at the sight of him the 
boys came to their senses; all felt the greatest pity for 
him and several of them cried bitterly. But Gerard 
was, as one of his tormenters afterwards related, quite 
cheerful and happy. "Oh!" he said, "all this is noth- 
ing for the love of Jesus Christ, who became a fool on 
our account." He arose from the ground in evident 
satisfaction. 

It is a remarkable thing that this event occurred just 
before the house of the Carusi family, where, a few 
years afterwards, as if in compensation for the outrage 
perpetrated on this spot, he was glorified by God be- 
fore the eyes of men by most astounding miracles. 

God also manifested great pleasure in the self-renun- 
ciation practised by our saint, and in the deep humility 
which he evinced by assuming, for His sake, the char- 
acter of a lunatic. For it was amid the insults and 
outrages mentioned above that -he endowed him for 
the first time with the gift of prophecy, and put into 



GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH BOB l BE LOVE OF GOD. 59 

bis mouth the words which very plainly expressed khe 
feneration that would be bestowed on Bis servant 
This happened on the oooasion when Gerard was again 
fche object of the mischievous tricks of fche boys who 
kicked and beat him. He then cried out to them with 
more than usual energy, full of dignity, yet not km.w- 
ing -what he was saying: "Yon now « 1< --j >i-t • me; the 

tunc will conic when you will think it an In. nor t<> kiss 

my hand." The lads then laughed at these words, but 
when Gerard afterwards actually appeared at Rfuro 
under quite different oircumstanoes, as on.- much Bought 

after and honored as a worker of niii.i.le-. man) of 
Ihi'in recalled his wolds and acknowledged them as 
prophetic, and inspired from on high. 

How long a time the servant of God Bought to im- 
pose on himself the ignominy and outrages inflicted by 

others, in order to imitate Jesus Christ, is not known; 
it was probably not Long, for it is certain that it was 
forbidden by his confessor. That he did not show the 
least repugnance in obeying with childlike submission 

the words of the priest, and that he gave up, in conse- 
quence, his usual practices of self-renunciation, are 
convincing proofs that he thereby became more thor- 
oughly and truly similar to his Redeemer than by all 
other kinds of sacrifices and Bufferings. 

Nevertheless it was evident that he mortified his pa- 
late in a more heroic degree during the greater portion 
of Lent. He usually ate only dry bread which he mois- 
tened "with water; he often fasted for whole days, or 
picket up in the streets some fruit or fragments of food, 
which served him as nourishment. If occasionally he 
partook of the kind of food usually eaten by others, 
such as soup and vegetables, he thought this a delicious 
meal and spoke of having been at a banquet (banchet- 
tare). If invited to take food, he excused himself by 
saying that he was not hungry ; and if eatables were for- 



60 GERARD BECOMES FOOLISH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

ced upon liim lie distributed them among the poor, or 
carried them to some sick person. — This rigid fast of 
Gerard cost his kind mother many tears; she often com- 
plained and gave vent to her sorrow on this account. 
But he said to her: "Do not be troubled, my dear mother, 
I am not hungry; my appetite is satisfied; I need no food." 

Even though he could sometimes use these words in 
a general sense, his appetite was gratified only by bit- 
ter and disagreeable herbs, such was wormwood, mil- 
foil and the like, of which he always earned a large 
quantity with him. 

As Donna Eugenia Pasquale one day tried to per- 
suade him to eat, and not to kill himself by fasting, he, 
as usual denied that he fasted too rigidly, and that he 
did not eat enough, and said that he always carried 
eatables in his pocket. Eugenia had the curiosity to see 
for herself, and putting her hand into his pocket, she 
found nothing but a quantity of bitter roots and herbs. 

The approval of heaven, as well as the anger of hell, 
kept pace with his zeal for penance and suffering. The 
latter perfectly corresponded with the state of Ger- 
ard's mind at this time. 

One night while speaking in the excess of his love to 
our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, he heard from the 
altar these words: "Pazzarello! Pazzarello!" ("O you 
little fool! O you little fool!") The saint immediately 
recognized the voice of his Master, and could not re- 
strain himself from giving the answer which his great 
confidence and his glowing love prompted him to make. 
"You are more foolish," O my Jesus! he said, "You 
are more foolish, since for my sake You remain here a 
prisoner." 

On another occasion, wholly inebriated with love he 
came to the altar, when he again heard the divine voice 
saying: "Little fool, little fool, what are you doing?" 
"What dost Thou wish, O my God," Gerard answered, 



GERABD BECOMES FOOLISH FOB THE LOT] 01 I >D. 61 

'•What dost Thou wish V why do6i Thou call me by 
such a oame? I >idst not Thou ]>ut me into this state? ' 
The evil spirit made extraordinary attacks upon him 
for the purpose oi destroying or preventing the holy 
conversation of the saint with his Savior. During these 

visits to the Blessed Sacrament the devil first tried all 

kinds of grimaces and apparitions, cither t<> frighten or 
to injnre him, as he has often done in regard toother 
great servants of God. One morning, when Gerard 
was about t<> enter tin- church in order to receive Hob 
Communion, he rushed on him under the appearance 
of a very large dog, howling, and showing his teeth as 
if he were going to tear him t<> pieces. Any one else 
would have fled, but Gerard was Dot alarmed, for he 
knew to well who was concealed under the mask; he 
made the sign of the cross, and the monster disappear- 
ed. The same thing happened at another time w he,, 
the devil met him in the disguise <>f a wolf, making 
Savage threats to attack him. At another time, while 
Gerard was kneeling at the foot of the altar, in the 
chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the evil spirit threw 
down a candlestick, in order thereby to disturb him in 
his prayers and in his communion with God. He also 
threw down upon Gerard while he knelt there, one of 
the wooden angels that were fastened to the cornice of 
the chapel, and woiinded him in the arm. Gerard sus- 
pected the author of all this, but did nothing except t<> 
move out of the way. As, however, the statue seemed 
to be under diabolical influence, and might be hurled 
at him he prayed, and the apparition vanished. Many 
years after these events, Gerard, at the command of his 
Superior, told the particulars of these demoniacal oc- 
currences. 

From the spirit awakened in this intercourse, and 
the wish to ait ich himself to heaven by inseparable 
bonds, proceeded also the holy boldness which induce'! 



02 GERARD BECOMES FOOLTSH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

him at this time to offer his heart to the Queen of 
heaven and become espoused to her. As we have seen, 
he had always borne a childlike affection towards the 
Blessed Mother of God, and of man. As the master- 
piece of God's hand, her incomprehensible beauty 
and the plentitude of her goodness enraptured his soul; 
as the Mother of the Eedeemer, she excited his admir- 
ation, his joy, his respect; and as the dispenser of every 
grace, she attracted with irresistible force his lov- 
ing heart that thirsted for the possession of this orna- 
ment of the soul. 

It often happened that he could not separate himself 
from the presence of the images of the Blessed Virgin, 
and when asked the reason, responded : "The Madonna 
has ravished my heart, and I have willingly yielded it 
up to her." It is also related that when a boy he had 
already dedicated to her his body and his soul with 
all their powers and acts ; and it is probable that even 
in his twelfth year he presented as a friendly gift to the 
Blessed Virgin his vow of perpetual virginity. At least, 
when worldly-minded persons indiscreetly asked him 
whether he intended to marry, he several times said 
very decidedly: "I shall choose for my spouse a beau- 
tiful woman." 

But as in the heart of the saintly young man, who 
had completely resigned himself to the inspiration of 
grace, all the virtues had grown, and, at the time of 
which Ave speak, had increased in intensity, so had his 
love for the Blessed Virgin Mary become greater, and 
now inspired him to perform an act of most tender and 
perfect consecration. 

On the third Sunday of the month of May the people 
used to celebrate with great pomp a feast in honor of 
the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. 
Gerard always prepared himself for it with special fer- 
vor. In the year 1747, on the day of the feast he was 



QEBABD BECOMES FOOLI8H FOB [BE l."\ l OF GOD. 63 

again devoutly praj ing before the Btatue of 1 1 1 * - Blessed 
Virgin, when, under the pressure of the feelings thai 
controlled him, he felt his heart beating violently, and 
as it were bounding with the greatest joy and Love. 
\\ ben the Btatue was about bo be carried in Bolemn 
procession be was seized by an irresistable power, and, 
more In ecstasy than conscious of himself, he pushed 
his way through the crowd, and Btanding before th>' 
statue he took a ring off his finger and endeavored to 
put it on the finger <>t the Blessed \ irgin, and Bald with 
a loud voice! "Behold! I am wedded t<> the Biadonna." 
("Ecoo mi sposato colla Biadonna!") By this act, he 
afterwards declared, he celebrated the espousals bet- 
ween Lis virginity and the virginity of the Blessed Vir- 
gin, and he believed himself Erom this moment to be 
consecrated in a special manner to the mother of ( tod, 
just as a bridegroom is consecrated to his bride. 

The blessing resulting Erom this consecration was not 
merely the expression of a transitory feeling of Love, 
but a well developed blossom of a holy and Long culti- 
vated disposition. It accompanied him throughout life 
and exhibited itself in a perfect purity of soul and l.»od\ . 
Gerard remained free not only from every grievous sin, 
and carried with him to the grave his baptismal robe 
unsullied, but he was able to avoid those stains which 
pave the way to voluntary venial sins. His confessors 
scarcely found matter for absolution, and one of them, 
Father Celestine de Rubertis, to whom the servant of 
God, towards the end of his life, usually went to con- 
fession, declared that the always felt deeply humbled 
when he saw him kneeling at his feet, in all the splen- 
dor of innocence, like an angel of paradise. As regards 
purity of body, however, Gerard was in this matter en- 
tirely free from the stings of the flesh and from the de- 
grading influence of concupiscence brought into this 
world by original sin. This was the gift which the Vir- 
gin had presented to her virginal client. 



CHAPTER V. 

On The Eoad To The Convent. 

Not long after the event just mentioned Gerard was 
seized with the most vehement desire to leave the 
world like the old hermits, and to devote himself in 
perfect seclusion to penance, meditation and manual 
labor. Such a life seemed to him to be the only com- 
pensation for the religious life which he so ardently 
desired, and to which he now had not the least prospect 
of ever being admitted. His health and bodily strength 
had not improved during the last years; in consequence 
of his austerities and the continual exhaustion occas- 
ioned by his burning love, he had become weaker and 
could therefore not expect anything but a refusal if he 
made a third request. In a hermitage, however, he 
thought that his weakness would be no obstacle; there he 
would be a burden to no one, and could imitate to a 
certain extent the rule of life followed by religious, and 
make the sacrifices that they have to make. He there- 
fore resolved to become a hermit. "We do not know 
whether he obtained the permission or the approval 
of his director for the execution of this design, or 
whether he only wished to make a trial of the life of 
a hermit and afterwards submit its success to his 
confessor, with the petition to continue it. 

For the establishment of his hermitage Gerard had 
chosen a forest situated in a mountainous district at 
some distance from the city. When he communicated 
his project to one of his most intimate friends, the lat- 
ter not only approved of it but he was courageous 
enough to offer himself as his companion. Gerard was 
pleased, and readily gave consent. With very little 
baggage the two young men left Muro on the day they 
had fixed, and set out for the solitary forest. 



ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. <»;> 

The life of the hermits was tmediately begun. The 
rule which tlic\ Intended t<> observe was very strict, 
ni id was not unworthy of the anchorites of primitive 
times. They wished to devote the hours of the day 
partly to manual labor, to exercises of piety, and t<> 
devout conversation. The night, however, was sei apart 

for meditation and for rigorous penances. Only a few- 
hours were to be given to sleep, which they did not 
wish to take on a comfortable COUOh under shelter, but 

in the open 'air, in order that the rest th«-\ enjoyed 
might also bear the character of penance. Theu food 
was to be extremely moderate. They had read that 

the old hermits prolonged their lives by means of roots 
and wild herbs, so they resolved to imitate them by 
selecting for their ordinary nourishment berries, roots 
and herbs found in the woods. 

We cannot but admire the determination which 
prompted them to carry out this strict rule; but in the 
case of one, it was soon discovered that his strength 
was not equal to the austerities imposed upon them. 
After three or four days, Gerard's companion declared 
himself unfit to continue this difficult life ; "the bow 
had been bent to much;" and he returned to the city. 
Of course the servant of God, who, from childhood had 
exercised himself in most rigorous fasting and severe 
mortifications, found in that which had driven away 
his associate no reason why he should follow him; he 
remained in the woods rejoicing on account of the in- 
creased solitude ; now he could give himself entirely to 
God and devote more time to prayer. 

The servant of God would have continued this mode 
of life if God had Avilled that he should remain in the 
hermitage ; but this was not His design. 

This secluded life, spent wholly in the service of 
God seemed suited to the aspirations of the highly gift- 
ed soul of Gerard. He certainly would have continued 



66 ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 

this mode of life to the end of his days had such been 
the will of God. A few days after the departure of his 
companion, his confessor commanded him to leave the 
forest, to return to his mother's house, and to continue 
his trade. The word of his confessor was for him the 
voice of God, he submitted with his usual exactness, 
returned to the home of his childhood, and again labor- 
ed in his workshop. 

The life which he now led in the world, during the 
two years intervening from the end of 1747 till his 
entrance into the religious state, was similar to that 
which he led before his retirement into solitude. He 
showed the same zealous fervor in the service of God 
and of his neighbor, the same obedience, conscientious- 
ness, and virtue ; it was remarked that his zeal for souls 
then manifested itself more strongly, and that apos- 
tolic bearing shone forth more prominently in Gerard's 
behavior. If formerly he endeavored to promote the 
honor of God by suffering, and by seeking every species 
of torture, he now labored to increase this honor by 
his activity, and by his salutary influence over the 
hearts of his fellow-men. 

Upon children he bestowed the most tender care. 
When a boy, he used to collect them to take part in 
pious plays ; now, he gathered them around him to 
disengage them from dangerous entertainments and use- 
less pastimes. He spoke to them of God and of divine 
things with that affability which fascinates, and with 
that pleasant eloquence which arises not only from per- 
sonal conviction, — and therefore produces conviction 
in others, — but which is also reserved, yet in harmony 
with the occasion, which neither annoys nor fatigues 
the listener. Sometimes he went in procession with 
the children to his dear chapel of Capotignagno, or 
visited an old church dedicated to St. Leo, in which he 
instructed the older children in the truths of religion, 



ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 07 

and taught the smaller ones to pronounce the Holy 
Names, to make the sign of the Cross, and to sa\ the 

Lord's prayer. 

But Gerard was not only an apostle abroad; he ex- 
erted a like influence at home, upon his mother and 
sisters. With the most convincing arguments, he often 
recommended to them the love of God and the Love of 
the Redeemer, and encouraged them to receive the sac- 
raments frequently. Very often tiny heard him say: 
"Let us visit Jesus, our dear prisoner;" won Is which In- 
frequently spoke to his companions when a child. Be 

instructed, encouraged, and advised his younger sisters, 

and when necessary he did not hesitate to rebuke them. 
He had remarked that one of his sisters WES inclined 
to indulge in finery, and was prone to childish vanity. 
This displeased Gerard; and he expressed his dissatis- 
faction in a kind but straightforward manner. Baying: 
'•Come, now, my dear sister, throw those beautiful trifles 
into the tire." 

That there was no decrease in Gerard's love for the 
Crucified Redeemer, nor in his desire of rendering him- 
self like to Him, we learn from an incident that occurr- 
ed about this time, probably in the beginning of Lent, 
1749. "When, therefore, the crucifixion was again to be 
represented, the privilege of personating the suffering 
Redeemer was granted to Gerard. He considered the 
matter very seriously. It was customary in Muro as well 
as in other countries of lively faith to represent to tin- 
people, in living pictures, scenes of our Lord's Passion. 
The representation took place in the cathedral; it was 
regarded as a kind of sermon, and as a religions drama 
which pious persons considered it an honor to take 
part in. On the appointed day Gerard had himself 
bound to the cross and begged those who were to per- 
sonate the officers of justice to tie him in a very cruel 
manner, and to inflict on him as much torture as pos- 



68 ON THE EOAD TO THE CONVENT. 

sible ; he had forgotten that there Avas no question of 
torture, but merely a representation of it. As Gerard's 
peculiarities were well-known, they promised to realize 
his wish. Thus the servant of God appeared hanging 
on the cross in a truly suffering state. The sight of the 
saintly young man, bound and stretched on the wood, 
showing in the expression of his countenance a pious 
interior disposition, as well as of sufferings cheerfully 
borne, moved the spectators to tears; they thought 
that they saw before them the suffering Redeemer Him- 
self. Gerard's good mother had also come to the play, 
without, however, knowing that her son was taking the 
chief pari in it. "When, therefore, quite unexpectedly, 
she saw him hanging on the cross, she swooned away. 
But the servant of God was tilled with joy, and upon 
his return home he consoled her and said that all 
he had endured was nothing; that he must suffer for 
Jesus Christ. 

Those souls for whom "it is necessary" to suffer for 
their Saviour, and who in fact suffer for Him with pleas- 
ure, the Lord glorifies in proportion to their sufferings ; 
not only by drawing them within the circle of His spec- 
ial friends, but by allowing them to shine before the 
eyes of men in their intimacy with God, and in all their 
spiritual greatness. Thus did our Lord act in regard 
to this servant of God. 

AVe have seen how the wonderful power of working 
miracles had already manifested itself in his childhood 
and during the time of his apprenticeship. But uoav, 
it showed itself in a still more singular and astonishing 
way. Of the miracles which Gerard performed at this 
time at Muro, a few are still remembered by the inhabit- 
ants, and we can therefore relate them in detail without 
the fear of bringing forward what is not well authen- 
ticated. 

Great astonishment was created among the towns- 



ON THE ROAD TO THE I ONVENT. 69 

people by the following miracle, which is attested by 
most trustworthy witnesses, an. I was performed by the 
servant of God. One day business induced Gerard to 
walk by a place when 1 men were engaged in building a 
house. He noticed that something disagreeable had 
happened, for everybody seemed to be in bad humor. 

It appears that a mistake' had been made in cutting 1 1 1 « - 

beams destined for the house, so that they were too 

short, ami did not reach from one side to tin- other. 

Gerard remained standing near the workmen, and after 
he had ascertained the cause of the trouble, he had re- 
course to his Lord and Master, and invoked the Holy 
Name over the beams. He then encouraged the work- 
men to try to draw the beams into their places by 
means of ropes. That Gerard was often inspired when 
he spoke, and that he possessed supernatural power, 
every one knew; we need not be astonished therefore, 
that the workmen did exactly as they had been directed. 
The result of their compliance with his request was 
most marvelous. The beams were found to (it exactly; 
they had evidently become longer, through the prayer 
of the servant of God. 

On another occasion he met a woman named Giuliani, 
who seemed to be in great distress. She Mas troubled 
about her child Amato, that she carried in her arms, 
and that cried and screamed most pitiously. The child 
had fallen into boiling water and had severely scalded 
its arms and breast. Oil and wax, which the mother had 
put on the wounds to relieve the pain, proved useless, 
ami the poor child in excruciating suffering now cried 
incessaiitly. The pitiable condition of the child, and 
the tears of the mother, made a deep impression on 
Gerard's kind heart. He placed himself before the 
child, gazed at it, placed his hand on its breast, and 
signed it with the sign of the Cross. Twenty-four hours 
afterwards, Amato was perfectly well ! 



70 ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 

If our saint brought about cures by the imposition 
of hands and the sign of the Cross, the sign of the Cross 
made by his command produced the same wonderful 
effects. That good woman, Emanuela Vetromile, with 
whom we have already become acquainted as the in- 
timate friend and confidante of his youthful secrets, 
had an opportunity of discovering this power. She 
had a servant in her house, a relative of hers named 
Ursula whom she loved very much on account of her 
excellent qualities. This girl had been afflicted with 
a chronic disease, which defied the skill of the physic- 
ians; Ursula was evidently near the grave and at length 
was given up by the doctors as hopeless. Vetromile 
was greatly alarmed, and had recourse to heaven. She 
was about to go to the church of the Conventual Fathers, 
in order to invoke the aid of St. Anthony for the pre- 
servation of her beloved servant, when Gerard met her. 
Seeing that her eyes were red with weeping, the sym- 
pathetic young man asked the cause of her dejection. 
After she had informed him of the cause of her sorrow 
and the object of her journey he consoled her and told 
her to go home and to make the sign of the cross upon 
the forehead of the dying girl three times, and she 
would be cured. The woman believed, went home, 
and did what Gerard had told her. His prediction was 
realized : scarcely had the sign of the cross been made 
on the forehead of the young girl when she rallied, to 
the astonishment of the physicians, as well as of the 
whole city of Muro. 

Meanwhile, the time was approaching when Gerard 
should see his most ardent Avish fulfilled, when he 
would reach the haven of the religious state. The re- 
ligious Society for which God had destined him as one 
of its first and brightest ornaments, had, during a num- 
ber of years, grown strong amid storms, visibly sustain- 
ed by the hand of Providence. It was the "Congrega- 



<>N Tin: ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 71 

Hon of the Most Holy Redeemer." Gerard was six years 
old when St. Alphonsus Liguori Laid the foundation of 
the Institute, being actuated by a merciful desire to 
save many abandoned souls that lived in the country, 
— such as he had become acquainted with among the 
shepherds <>f Amalfi. He was supported in his design 
by the counsel of wise and holy men, and encourag- 
ed ami incited by the divinely privileged Sister ICary 
Ccelestis Costarosa, then living in the convent of the 
Holy Redeemer, at Scala. Sin- had manifested to him 
( Lod's holy will in this affair. We shall meet her again in 
the course of this biography. Saving surmounted great 

obstacles, he founded the first house at Scala; soon 

after, he established another house at Ciorani; then 

followed that of Nocera, ami Lastly another was begun 

at Iliceto. 

Gradually, there gathered around the saintly Founder 
a considerable number of priests and Laymen, who, ani- 
mated with his spirit, and penetrated with a like desire 
for their own sanctitiration and for the salvation of the 
most abandoned souls, began to realize his plans. The 
work of the missions increased daily ami the name of 
Don Alphonsns was honored as that of a true apostle 
and friend of the poor. There were on the one hand 
miracles of love and zeal; on the other miracles of 
grace and conversion. 

Eminent prelates seeing the success and zeal of this 
new work, hastened to avail themselves of the oppor- 
tunity of securing the labors of the Fathers for the wel- 
fare of souls in their parishes, by giving missions and 
retreats, and began to take measures to have houses ot 
the Congregation established in their dioceses. Among 
these prelates was Monsignor Nieolai, Archbishop of 
Conza. A mission, given in May 1746, in the little 
town of Caposeja, belonging to his diocese, under the 
direction of St. Alphonsus, convinced him of the great 



72 ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 

good which the Fathers would accomplish if they had 
a permanent house established among the people con- 
fided to his care. He believed it to be his duty to 
offer to the hoi}* Founder the sanctuary of "Mater 
Domini", which was situated near Caposele. Alphonsus 
accepted the offer. 

Twenty years before, this sanctuary had been offered 
to St. John Joseph of the Cross, who at that time was 
the Provincial of the Alcantarians, in order that he 
might there establish a convent of his Order. But 
the saint refused to accept it, and while giving his 
reasons for the refusal, he uttered a prophecy which 
was now fulfilled. He said : "It is not God's will that 
our religious should establish a community in this 
place ; but after twenty years, other religious will come 
here and will work for God's honor and the salvation 
of souls." At the close of 1747, St. Alphonsus sent as 
first Superior, his faithful companion, Father Gesar 
Sportelli, a man possessed of eminent virtues, and re- 
markable for his unbounded confidence in divine Pro- 
vidence. 1 ) 

^Father Caesar Sportelli was born at Aqua Viva on the 29th 
of March, 1702, and was one of the first and most holy diciples 
of St. Alphonsus. Like the latter, he devoted himself to the 
legal profession, and was a lawyer at Naples. When in the 
world he led a most exemplary life. After he had become 
acquainted with Alphonsus he was his constant companion, 
and entered the new Congregation as soon as it was estab 
lished. His humility, patience, obedience and brotherly love 
were resplendent; his faith was so lively that he often cried 
out: "O paradise!" His hope was so strong that he never 
grew disheartened, no matter how great his distress might be. 
He used to say: "Lasciamo fare a Dio benedetto." "Let us 
leave it all to the Blessed Lord." During the missions he 
often preached three or four times a day, and would not allow 
his frequent hemorrhages and asthma to interfere. He was 
indifatigible in the confessional, in which, on one occasion at 
Foggia, he sat fully ten hours without interruption. In all 
his public discourses, he manifested such zeal, that some one 



o\ THE ROAD TO THE OONVEHT. 73 

Although the good people of Caposele did all in 
their power to advance the new foundation and to 
secure its stability, yet the funds were insufficient. The 
building of the house required more money than they 
could supply. Hence the Fathers were compelled t<> 
appeal to the liberality of the faithful living in other 
cities and dioceses. The Archbishop of Con/a gave 
them a special letter of recommendation. Father Fran- 
cis Garzilli was appointed to make a collecting tour, 
and brother Onofrio was chosen to accompany him. 

Iu August, 1748, they arrived at Gerard's native 
place; they were the first Bedemptorists whom he had 
seen. Yet he felt attracted to them, and was inclined 
to enter into conversation with them. This feeling was 
evidently sympathy of vocation. Gerard knew that 
this was an inspiration from on high, and did not hesi- 
tate to follow it. He then accosted Onofrio, asked him 
about the usual community life in the Congregation, 
the practices of piety, especially those of penance, and 
informed him that he had a desire to enter as a lay- 
brother. Onofrio gave him the most satisfactory infor- 
mation, but discouraged his desire to enter the < longre- 
gation. "Our Congregation," he said, "will not suit you, 

said: "I had a great desire to hear St. Paul, but having heard 
Father Sportelli I am satisfied, for he seems to me another 
Paul." As a true son of St. Alphonsus, he entertained an 
ardent veneration for the Madonna, and was faithful in his 
visits to the Blessed Sacrament. During the missions and re- 
treats he did excellent service to the Congregation as Superior 
and General Consultor. The time of his last illness was de- 
voted to heavenly things, and he breathed forth his soul after 
having uttered the Psalm : "In exitu Isreal de Egypto." He 
died April 19th, 1750. After his death many miracles were 
wrought by the invocation of his name. Our holy Founder, 
St. Alphonsus, was induced to petition the Holy See to allow 
his beatification to be introduced. But soon, most violent 
storms agitated the little bark of St. Alphonsus, and he was 
prevented from following up this matter. 



74 ON THE ROAD TO THE COXYEXT. 

for our life is one of great suffering, and our Rule is 
very severe." Onofrio evidently did not know the spirit 
that animated the young man. Gerard radiant with joy, 
said "The information you have given me, is just what 
I would like." He hesitated to proceed any farther in 
this matter, either because he held in remembrance the 
refusal of the Capuchins, or what is more probable, he 
did not trust his first inclination, and wished to subject 
it to further proof to find out whether or not it was a 
divine call. In the meantime, Gerard was convinced 
of his vocation to the religious life. The following 
year, 1749, the Fathers came to Muro to give a mission. 

It was Easter-time, April 13. The exercises of the 
mission were begun, and the inhabitants of Muro took 
a lively interest in them: especially young Majella. He 
stood near the pulpit daily, and listened with the great- 
est attention of the words of the missionaries, especially 
to those of Father Paul Cafaro, who was the superior 
of the mission. Father Cafaro was a man qualified to 
attract a saint like Gerard. He was endowed with the 
gift of apostolic elocpience and well versed in the science 
of the saints. We may judge of the spirit with which 
he was animated by the words which often involuntari- 
ly escaped his lips: "O death! O eternity!" He preach- 
ed the truths of religion with that persuasiveness and 
unction that moved the erring to conversion, and fil- 
led the innocent with the magnanimous desire to devote 
themselves entirely to the service of God. Gerard was 
fascinated. These days of penance were wholly accor- 
ding to his taste, he rejoiced to see the fruits of the 
mission manifested in the salvation of so many souls, 
the renewal of fervor, the defeat of the evil spirit, and 
the triumph of grace. 

There is an incident on record which very plainly re- 
veals Gerard's penitential sentiments at this time. Among 
the customary exercises of penance, performed during 



ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 75 

the mission was that of scourging. In u few days the 
minds of the men were already disposed to contrition, 
and after the sermon, this penitential act was performed. 
Gerard was never absent. His Loreof penance promp- 
ted him never to neglect such an opportunity. There 
were others present who went to the church not in tin- 
spirit of penance hut with mischief in view. Among 
these were two young men who were gratified to inflict 
pain on the servant of God. They secured a place he- 
hind him, and as soon as the lamps had been extin- 
guished and all had begun to BCOUTge themselves, they 

inflicted heavy blows on the innocent virtim. Gerard 
might have complained of such wicked behavior, but 
did not even change his place in the church, and pa- 
tiently hore these tortures during the four or five ensu- 
ing evenings. 

In the meantime, the servant of God had become 
thoroughly convinced that divine Providence had or- 
dained that he should enter the Congregation of the 
Most Holy Redeemer. He lost no time in responding 
to call hy removing all obstacles. During the mission 
he offered his services to the Fathers, and towards the 
close, he distributed all that he had among the poor, 
to detach himself from the world and to enter the state 
of perfection as a truly poor man. At last he diselosed 
his intention to Father Cafaro, and declared that it was 
his most ardent desire to follow him and hecome a lay- 
brother in his Congregation. Father Cafaro was con- 
vinced of Gerard's nohle disposition and genuine piety; 
yet the young man's weakness and his emaciated frame 
made him doubt that he was equal to the laborious 
duties of a lay-brother. Father Cafaro, therefore, re- 
fused his request, advising him to banish the thought 
of entering the Congregation. Gerard would willingly 
have followed this advice which so holy a man as Father 
Cafaro had given him, — yet he could not resist God's 



76 ON THE EOAD TO THE CONVENT. 

voice. He continued to importune the missionaries ; 
beseeching them to give him a tidal. He was not dis- 
couraged when he met with a refusal. 

His mother had meanwhile received information of 
what he intended to do. One day when she asked him 
the cause of his extraordinary sadness he related to her 
his negotiations with Father Cafaro. This brought new 
difficulties. However pious and resigned to God's will 
this woman was, she could not bear the thought that her 
son should leave her ; and listening too much to the 
voice of nature she began to oppose the young man's 
plan and to do everything to prevent him from carrying 
out his resolution. She undertook to cross Gerard's 
plans, appealing to him with maternal tenderness, and 
begged him several times with tears, not to abandon 
his mother. "He could," she said, "love and serve 
God as well in the world ; and besides he should be 
mindful of her needs, and should not leave her without 
support." His sisters also joined his mother in her 
entreaties. Much as he loved his family, Gerard proved 
that he loved the Beloved of his soul still more, by 
hearkening to the voice that bade him leave house, and 
mother and sisters in order to devote himself entirely 
to God's service. He therefore conquered his natural 
affection, consoled his mother and sisters, and told 
them he could not act differently from what he had re- 
solved to do. "I must," he said among other things, 
"seek an asylum where I can say: Here I am altogether 
for God, — for God Who asks of us and loves the sacri- 
fice of all our feelings and of our whole heart." 

Finding her tears of no avail she hastened to Father 
Cafaro, to prevail upon him not to receive Gerard into 
his congregation. The love which she bore her son 
made her eloquent, and in its excess she exaggerated 
her condition. She represented her poverty and her 
dependence on Gerard for support in the most glowing 



<>\ tiii: ROAD TO tin: CONYKH i. 77 

terms, "ami besought the missionary with tears to favor 

her request. There was m> need of appealing to Father 
Oafaro to dissuade Gerard from his purpose for he bad 
never thought of receiving the young man; on the con- 
trary, he was firmly resolved to oppose him though it 
pained him to do so. He consoled the weeping mother, 

and dismissed her With the information that he diil not 

think of admitting her son. Knowing how ardently 

desirous the servant Of God was to follow him, and to 

leave Muro with tho missionaries, he advised the 

mother not to allow Gerard to leave the house when 
they were about to depart. 

This advice was punctually carried out. When the 
hour for the departure of the Fathers had arrived, the 
servant of God was confined to a room pf the house, 
and was not even permitted to hid them farewell. But 
what avail is human prudence against the bold and in- 
ventive love of the saints ! 

The missionaries left Muro, and had already gone quite 
a distance on their way to Rionero, where they inten- 
ded to open a mission, when the voice of a young man 
who was running after them, and who was nearly out of 
breath, cried out: "0 my Fathers! do wait for me, do 
wait for me !" They did not credit what they saw and 
heard, — but there was no mistake ; it was Gerard's 
voice! The servant of God had found means of escap- 
ing from his prison. He had \ised the bed-clothes to 
lower himself from the window, and had thus secured 



DThe poverty of Gerard's family was undoubtedly great, still, 
as his sisters were already grown up and could earn their liv- 
ing by the work of their hands, it w r as not of such a nature that 
the young man, called to something higher, would have been 
obliged to remain with his mother. After Gerard had entered 
the Congregation there was no longer any question about the 
poverty of his family, and if this poverty had been so great, the 
conscientious St. Alphonsus would never have admitted him to 
religious profession. 



78 ON THE EOAD TO THE CONVENT. 

his liberty. On the table lie left a note in -which he 
told them of his flight, and that he was going away to 
become a saint. He further remarked that the mem- 
bers of his family should never more think of him. Fa- 
ther Cafaro and his companions were astonished at the 
heroism of poor Majella, and felt the greatest compas- 
sion for him, especially since they knew for what reason 
he had come, and that his petition would again have 
to be refused. Father Cafaro tried to persuade him to 
return quietly to Muro. But all in vain : he cried and 
entreated ; "Try me," he repeatedly said : "and then 
you may judge my case, and send me away if necessary." 

In the fervor of his desire he followed the fathers as 
far as Eionero, where he besieged the Superior of the 
missionaries with entreaties and tears. Again, and 
again he received the fatal answer, "It cannot be done; 
it is impossible." Finally he threw himself at the feet 
of him whom he thought an unmerciful Father, with 
an expression of humility which would move the heart 
of any one to favor his petition, and began to plead in 
a modest but firm voice. "Well, then, my Father," 
said he, "if you do not receive me among your brethren, 
you will see me every day among the poor and beg at 
the door of your convent. But I beseech you, try me 
first, and if I shall be found unfit, then send me away." 

So modest and so resolute a tone conquered Father 
Cafaro. Though not convinced that Gerard was fit for the 
position of lay-brother, he thought that he should yield 
to his ardent wish, in order not to wound or break so 
noble a heart. He, therefore, gave him a trial. He then 
wrote these few lines to Father Lorenz d' Antonio, Bee- 
tor of our house in Iliceto, "I send you a brother, who, 
in regard to work will be perfectly useless. But I could 
not absolutely refuse him admission, on account of his 
many earnest entreaties, and the high reputation which 
he enjoys at Muro." This short letter contains, at 



ON THE ROAD TO THE CONVENT. 7'. I 

least in the first pari as we shall soon learn, an entirely 
erroneous judgment about the servant of God; yet it 
made liim happy beyond measure when it was handed 
to him with the request that he should proceed with 
with it to Iliceto. It seemed to him to contain tin- 
credentials, empowering him to set out from the land 
of exile, and joyfully enter paradise. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Lay-Brother. 

After having received the strange letter of recom- 
mendation, the servant of God set out without delay 
for Iliceto. The road leading to it was not a short one; 
it was a good days walk, even at a rapid pace. But 
for our happy traveler, who felt as if a load had been 
taken from him, and who was absorbed in holy thoughts, 
this day seemed as fleeting and as pleasant as if only 
an hour. 

When he saw the house of the Redemptorists in the 
distance, he felt the greatest joy, and hastened to reach 
it as soon as possible. It was probably on Saturday, 
the 17th of May, 1749, when the servant of God set 
foot on the threshold of the little convent where he 
was to lead a wonderful and holy life, and prepare 
himself fully for the duties of his vocation. Let us 
enter with him, for it will not be without interest to us, 
as it later became the theatre of his virtue and miracles. 

The house of the Redemptorists at Iliceto, in the 
diocese of Bovino, stood on a small mountain in the 
neighborhood of the little town from which it derived 
its name, in a corner of the woods which the inhabi- 
tants used to call "Vallinvincoli." In former times it 
gave shelter to a community of Augustinian monks, 
whose Founder and first Superior was Blessed Felix 
of Corsano. A venerable memorial of this holy man 
was still in existence. It was a grotto hewn out of a 
rock, situated below the convent, in which Felix loved 
to pray and devote himself to the practice of penance. 
Next to the house was a small church dedicated to the 
Mother of God, under the title of "Our Lady of Con- 
solation," which was constantly visited by the inhabi- 
tants of Iliceto and of the surrounding country, in order 
to pay their respects to the miraculous ructure. 






THE LAY-BBOTHEB. 81 

Towards the end of the year 1744, St. Alphonsue 
had also gone there for the same purpose, while giving 
a retreat at Ilioeto. He was so charmed with tin- de- 
votion of the place and the solitude that reigned in 
Yallinvincoli that he yielded to the persuasion of those 
who wished to retain him at Iliceto, and declared that 
he was ready to accept the Augustinian convent that 
had : been offered him, and convert it into a house of 
his Congregation. In the following year, 1745, he re- 
paired to this place with a few companions, and was 
received with open arms and joyfully welcomed by the 
people, especially by the bishop of Bovino, the vener- 
able Antonio Lucci. Iliceto then became his abode 
for two years. Here he devoted himself to piety and 
study. 

In fact, the solitude and seclusion of the house at 
Iliceto were entirely suited to offer to a scientific, and, 
in a far higher degree, to an ascetics! life, the natural 
foundation for its proper display and development. 
This quiet place was never disturbed by the world and 
its concerns. Besides, this solitude was consecrated 
by a holy past, so that the mind and heart could apply 
themselves calmly and unreservedly to the most serious 
affairs of life. "In this new house of Our dear Lady 
of Consolation," wrote Father Cafaro, a short time after 
its establishment, "I believe that I am sharing the 
happy lot of the hermits of Egypt. When we return 
to this place after the missions of the winter and spring, 
we live so quiet a life, are so retired from the 
tumult of the world, that we scarcely know what is go- 
ing on there. We are free from all intercourse with 
seculars, in the heart of the forest. Our hermitage 
rivals the rocky mountain which St. Peter of Alcantara 
chose as his favorite resort. 'Blessed be God Who has 
brought me to this place'!" 

So, too, spoke Gerard when he entered the convent 



82 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

of Iliceto. How lie thanked God for having at last 
granted him the grace for which he had prayed so long; 
how he thanked the Mother of Consolation, who now 
visited him with consolation after so many trials and 
afflictions ! 

Immediately upon his arrival, the happy young man 
knelt before the altar of the Blessed Mother to express 
his gratitude and declared that he wished to live under 
her protection as also to die in this house which was 
dedicated to her. So great was his happiness that he 
could hardly contain himself. He wept for joy, and walk- 
ed through the corridors of the convent and kissed 
its walls. 

The Fathers and Brothers who had an opportunity 
of witnessing the happiness of the new-comer thought 
that it would soon be changed into sorrow, and that the 
young man would not stay with them very long. The 
few lines written by Father Cafaro made them surmise 
this ; besides, every one was convinced at first sight 
that the candidate was weak in body. 

But his appearance and behavior soon wiped out the 
unfavorable impressions which Gerard's exterior and 
Father Rector's letter had made. In a short time every 
one was convinced that the servant of God was far 
from being a "useless brother," and that they had re- 
ceived into the house not only a saintly young man 
but a very excellent workman. 

We need not add that Gerard, during the first days, 
charmed every one by his humility, his spirit of morti- 
fication, exact obedience, and his other virtues. Ere 
long he convinced them that in considering him unfit 
for work, they had misjudged him. While working, he 
was active as if he were in the best of health and pos- 
sessed a robust constitution. 

When Father Cafaro, who had sent him to Iliceto, 
came there in October 1749 in the capacity of Rector 



THE LAY-BROTH I.I ;. 83 

of that parish, he heard quite the contrary of what he 
had anticipated, for Gerard was Lavishly praised by all. 

"VVe know not the exact time when Gerard received 
the religious habit. It was always a rule ra the Con- 
gregation, that those who wished to enter as lay-brothers 
had to wear the secular dress for at least six months, 
and under some circumstances even longer, lief,. re they 
could receive the religious habit. During this time 
they were under the direction of the Master of Novices 
whose business it was to test them and to teach them 
how to practise virtue. If they were equal to the trial, 
they received the habit and made their lirst novitiate 
of six months. After some time, they were admitted 
to the second novitiate, which was concluded by the 
making of the vows. We have do reason to think th.it 
an exception was made in Gerard's case, but we may, 
however, suppose that the preliminary trial did not 
contiime beyond the usual six months. Consequently 
he must have received the habit towards the end of the 
year 174*). 

From this time he was looked upon as a novice of 
the Congregation, and his next duty was to enter into 
the spirit of the religiotis life in general and into tin- 
spirit of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer 
in particular. Gerard found no difficulty in doing this, 
having already passed through an excellent school of 
the spiritual life. During the first days of his religious 
career he comprehended what it means to be a serving- 
brother of the Congregation, and the ideal which he 
should strive to attain was quite vividly before his 
mind. 

According to his notion — and it is a perfectly cor- 
rect one — the good lay-brother is a man who under- 
stands how to unite to the work of his hands, prayer 
and the exercises of piety, so that if work claims most 
of his time, his heart inclines constantly towards prayer 



84 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

and exercises of piety. The good lay-brother is able 
to sanctify every kind of work, and as it were, seasons 
it and changes it into prayer by intercourse with God, 
by a good intention, and by ejaculatory prayers. From 
morning till evening he is at work ; he knows nothing 
of idle moments. Always ready to serve others, he 
finds no work too insignificant, no occupation too low- 
ly : he is ever ready to come to the assistance of others. 
Impatience which his work is apt to create, he sup- 
presses with the cheerfulness of a self-sacrificing heart, 
and smiling, he accomplishes whatever has been en- 
joined upon him. He is in the kitchen, the refectory, 
the workshop, at the door, in the sanctuary, — always 
at the right time, according to the orders he has re- 
ceived ; and he never interferes in the affairs of others. 
He is not attached to the office which he holds ; he is 
not absolutely tenacious of the work in which he de- 
lights. He is distinguished by modesty, humility, 
simplicity, a certain quiet behavior, love of silence 
and recollection. In obedience and respect for Superiors 
he does not wish any one to surpass him. The good 
lay-brother believes himself to be the hand or the foot 
of the Superior, which moves without asking questions 
or without resistance, at his will; he submits his judg- 
ment to the judgment of those who are in authority. A 
model of brotherly love, he is anxiously concerned about 
the wants of all. His own wants are the last he thinks of, 
and for these he provides, with great austerity, in strict 
observance of holy poverty. If sick persons are confi- 
ded to his charge, he nurses them with maternal care ; 
if he has to wait upon strangers, he does his work in such 
a manner that he not only serves, but edifies them ; 
and they go away strongly persuaded that there is a 
vast difference between a servant in the world and a 
serving-brother in the convent. Of the outside world, 
the good lay-brother knows very little; he has no inter- 



Tin: LAY-BROTHER. 85 

course with the world excep that which the buBineBS 
of the house may require, [f occasionally he ean Bay 
an edifying word or do something else for the salvation 
of souls, he does it without arrogating to himself the 
office of priest ; he is at his best when like st. John 
the Baptist, he prepares the wn\ of the Lord in humil- 
ity and simplicity. Such is the pious Lay-brother of 
the convent. This was the ideal which Gerard endea- 
vored to reach in the beginning of his religions life, 

There were lay-brothers in the Congregation who 
had already realized this ideal, whom he could imitate 
in the practices of virtue. Although the Congregation 

was still in its earliest youth, being not yet twenty 
years old, a few of its saintly lay-brothers had already 
departed this life in the odor of sanctity. 

The first fruit plucked by Almighty God in the gar- 
den of St. Alphonsus was sueh a saintly 1 not her. This 
was amiable brother Joachim Gaudiello, whose pious 
life was followed by a holy death, on the 18th of April, 
1741, eight years previous to Gerard's entrance in re- 
ligion. This lay-brother served him as a model in 
every respect. He was an Aloysius in his zeal for 
penance and the purity of his morals, a Francis in his 
ardent love of God and divine things, a Giles in his 
simplicity and obedience, a Bernard in his love for the 
Madonna. Though he was extremely fond of prayer 
and of intercourse with God, his favorite maxim was : 
"Work is the test of the lay-brother," — an expression 
which convinces us that he fully understood what it is 
to be a lay-brother. When dying in the house of 
Ciorani, in view of the circumstance that he was the 
first Eedemptorist passing into eternity, he was so full 
of joy that he repeatedly cried out : "It is I who carry 
the standard." (Io porto lo stendardo.) 

Another holy lay-brother who was highly esteemed 
for its virtues, having died four years before at Iliceto, 



86 THE LAY-BKOTHEE. 

but still living in the memory of all, was no less an 
ideal for imitation. We mean Brother Yitus Curzius, 
in whom there is manifested, perhaps less than in 
Brother Gaudiello, the practice of virtue in all its lov- 
liness and gentleness, but who is more conspicuous as 
an example of heroic self-control, and perfect obedience. 
He was born of a respectable family in 1706. Imbued 
with false notions of honor, he lived the life of a proud 
and haughty worldling. A dream, directing his atten- 
tion to the holy Founder, St. Alphonsus, effected a 
complete change in his soul. He joined the saint and 
was as zealoiis to acquire true honor as he had former- 
ly proved himself in his effort for the acquisition of 
worldly renown. He wished to serve God as a poor 
lay-brother, and entered the Congregation in this 
capacity immediately after its establishment. During 
the first part of his religious life he had many temp- 
tations and conflicts ; later, God elevated him to the 
highest degree of prayer. His humility and mortifica- 
tions were sublime ; but he distinguished himself chief- 
ly by his obedience. This virtue was not natural to 
him — it was the fruit of grace, — a victory over nature. 
Yitus used to say : "A lay-brother should resemble the 
bell which is fastened to the neck of an animal that is 
grazing: this bell never rings unless it is moved. So 
a lay-brother ought never to do anything unless he is 
prompted to do so by holy obedience." This principle 
he observed most perfectly during his whole life : and 
St. Alphonsus himself remarks, — one may say that he 
died a victim of obedience. Obedience demanded of 
him to make a journey on foot, and Avhile he was re- 
turning he came to a house where he expected to spend 
the night. Though he was exhausted from the heat of 
the day he was refused admittance. Patiently bearing 
the affront he went into the open air and lay down to 
rest. The cold air was a serious injury to him : he was 



i BE LAT-BROTHEB. K7 

seized with fever and could scarcely drag himseli along, 
Almost within sight of our house al Qiceto, he found that 
he could proceed no farther. A good pries! received 
him into his house, in which he lav sick during forty- 
nine days, and at last, on Saturday the L8th of Septem- 
ber 1745, he entered the joys of tin' Lord. When the 
people heard of the death of this lay-brother tiny said: 
"The saint is dead." The corpse was solemnly carried 
to the church <>f the Redemptorists. St. Alphonsus, 
who was then at Qiceto, offered up the Holy Sacrifice 
of the Mass for him, and was so grieved at the loss of 
the holy brother, that he burst into tears several times 
during the obsequies. People vied with cue another 
for the possession of the things that had been used 
by Vitus, as if the were holy relics, filonsignor Ani.it... 
at that time Vicar General of Con/a and afterwards 
bishop of Lacedogna, had entertained so high an es- 
teem for the deceased, that after the lapse of a few- 
years he obtained permission t<> keep the skull of the 
Saintly brother which he placed on his desk; it was 

the subject of his daily meditations. After tin- death 
of the bishop, this venerable relic was restored to the 
house of the Redemptorists. 1 ' 

Thus had the servant of God very distinguished 
models on whom he might adapt himself to realize his 
ideal of perfection. Besides these favorable circum- 
stances, the young novice enjoyed the privilege of being 
guided by the eminently spiritual director, Father 
Cafaro. 

Father Paid Cafaro, who was born on the 5th of July, 
1707, at Cafari, spent his childhood and youth in in- 
nocence, and entered the ministry of which he became 
a bright ornament at an early age. It was his custom 
daily to devote two hours to prayer before the taber- 

D Among the works of St. Alphonsus there is also to be 
found a sketch of the life of the saintly Brother Curzio. 



88 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

nacle. He "was quite familiar with all kinds of penances; 
he often fasted on bread and water, wore a hair shirt, 
and chastised his body not only with ordinary scour- 
ges, but sometimes with a bundle of sharp thorns. In 
his twenty-eighth year, by order of his bishop, he was 
obliged to take charge of a parish for five years. He 
labored among his people so zealously and conscien- 
tiously that he was called by his colleagues : "Sollici- 
tudo omnium ecclesiarum" "The watchful guardian of 
all the churches." In consequence of scrupulosity, 
he resigned his benefice, and soon afterwards entered 
the Congregation of St. Alphonsus. Here he made 
rapid progress in all the virtues. While he was inde- 
fatigable in laboring for the salvation of souls, he found 
time to hold intercourse with God in secret prayer; and 
if in former years he spent two hours of the evening in 
its exercise, he hoav devoted himself to it every day 
during seven or eight hours. The will of God was 
everything to him, so that St. Alphonsus could testify 
of him : "The only passion of Father Paul was, to ful- 
fil the will of God." Towards the end of his life God 
tried him, as He only tries great saints. He encounter- 
ed those spiritual nights, those sufferings, those interior 
trials of which even the experienced can scarcely give 
a discription, so great is the woe that accompanies 
them. St. Alphonsus, who was well informed of the 
suffering condition of Father Cafaro, but was prevented 
by the secrecy with which he was bound, from disclos- 
ing its nature, says, that if he were permitted to reveal 
it, a description of it would move the very stones. This 
terrible martyrdom continued during the last six years 
of his life ; and when Gerard intrusted the direction of 
his soul to him, he had already entered upon his triaL 
St. Alphonsus regarded Father Cafaro as a prop of the 
Congregation, always asked his advice, and was govern- 
ed by his direction in the affairs of his own conscience. 



THE LAY-BBOTHEB. 89 

When Father Cafaro became seriously ill, and danger 
of death became apparent, the holy Founder did all in 
his power to prolong his life. He not only prayed him- 
self, but had prayers offered up in all the houses of the 
Congregation. Especially did he apply for this pur- 
pose to other convents, including several convents «»f 
nuns. But God had ordained otherwise. < >n the 13th. 
of August, 1753, Father Cafaro, who had lived the life 
of a saint, died the death of a saint at Caposele. In 
the course of this biography we will again refer to his 
death "which was a heavy blow for St. AlphonsuS. The 
saint humbly submitted to God's decree and sought 
comfort by writing a beautiful hymn on the conformity 
of our will to the will of God, He afterwards wrote 
the life of this holy priest. 

This was the man to whom Gerard instrusted the 
care of his soul, when he began to put into practice 
the resolution of becoming a holy lay-brother. As re- 
gards the direction of his soul it was very severe. A 
biographer assures us, Father Cafaro kept the servant 
of God, "sub virga ferrea" (under the iron rod), and all 
Ids care was aimed at the total suppression of natural 
inclination and of self-will. He never wished that 
Gerard should flatter his nature in any way, and also took 
measures that he should never want for humiliations. 
He gave his full consent to the mortifications to 
which Gerard had accustomed himself and even urged 
him to practise them ; yet everything that Gerard did 
was to be subjected to his judgment and approbation. 
Father Cafaro exercised such seventy, not to discour- 
age or inflict pain upon so noble a soul as Gerard's, 
but only to keep him in humility and obedience, to 
establish these virtues firmly, and to secure them 
against the attacks of the devil. His austere manner 
of directing corresponded with the wishes of the ser- 
vant of God, who treated himself with equal severity. 



90 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

When he made his first spiritual retreat at Iliceto he 
wrote the following impressive admonition which he 
believed necessary for himself. "Posuit me Deus in 
paradiso voluptatis," (God has placed me in the garden 
of delights.) "Consider it well Gerard, that the Lord 
has taken you out of the world and placed you in the 
paradise of the Congregation, there to labor, to keep 
the commandments and to practise the evangelical 
counsels contained in your rule. If you were to neglect 
this you would be most unhappy; the punishment 
thereof would be (which God may avert) the abandon- 
ment of the Congregation." 

The servant of God carried out this resolution with- 
out delay. His diligence and love of work were not a 
whim, or of short duration, his fervor was never dimin- 
ished. Gerard was always an able and industrious 
workman ; it was said that he did more than any other 
brother; even that he could do the work of four men. 
During the first period of his stay in the convent he 
was occupied in the garden. This kind of work was 
quite new to him, and therefore very difficult. He was 
lively and cheerful however, and handled the spade 
and the rake as if he had been accustomed to such 
work all his life. He was so successful that he finish- 
ed the task allotted him in a shorter time than any of 
the other brothers at work with him. When the soil 
had to be dug up and the ground laid out, Gerard al- 
ways completed his share of work before his compan- 
ions ; he then hastened to assist them saying : "Let me 
do that, for I am the youngest." When he could not 
help others during the leisure moments at his disposal, 
he found occupation elsewhere; he repaired parts of 
the wall that were damaged, collected building materi- 
als, or made himself useful in some other way. 

The work in the garden proved too difficult for the 
young man. One day Father Cafaro accidentally look- 



i in; LAI-BROTHEB. ( .>1 

ed into the garden, and noticed that the good novice 
was working with a fervor that was actually wearing 

him out, and that ho did not take his failing strength 
into consideration. He called him immediately and 
told him that he should discontinue working in the 
garden, and that another kind of work would be assign- 
ed to him. 

As soon as he had finished his fust novitiate, which 
covered a period of six months, the oilier of sacristan 
was entrusted to Gerard, early in the summer of 1750. 
This change pleased him very much. To work in Un- 
church, — to him the dearest spot on earth, he con- 
sidered an honor and a pleasure. We may therefore 
imagine with what care he exercised the duties "f this 
office. He did his work in so perfect a manner that 
the little church of "Our Lady of Consolation" never 
had a better sacristan ; and even after the lapse of fifty 
years the people at Iliceto spoke with admiration of 
the holy and conscientious brother. Never had the 
church been so clean, never had the altar been so beau- 
tifully and tastefully decorated as when he had charge 
of it. The poverty of the house did not prevent him 
from doing all this; his piety was fertile in expedients, 
and he "well understood how to arrange the few articles 
at his disposal in such a manner that all who visited the 
church were charmed and edified. "All our old Fathers," 
Bays Father CamillusRipoii, in the process of the beati- 
fication, "related to me that the saintly brother was an 
accomplished sacristan. He knew how to decorate the 
church with so much taste ; he kept it so exquisitely 
neat and clean, that since his time they have never 
found his equal." 

Besides the office of sacristan, Gerard had also to 
make and mend clothes for the community. In this 
new duty he also showed himself exemplary in every 
respect. He sought to provide for the wants of all in 



92 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

every particular ; for liis lively faith saw our Lord in 
the brethren whom he had to clothe ; and, with the 
eyes of faith, he perceived that in his occupation a 
service rendered to them was at the same time a service 
rendered to Jesus Christ Himself. 

The zealous lay-brother was accordingly constantly 
occupied with the duties of his office. There was 
occasionally a little free time which he did not dare to 
devote to recreation, but which he employed, when 
necessary, in assisting the other brothers. It was a 
principle with him to render aid wherever aid was re- 
quired, and not to permit any one to ask him to offer 
it. One of his resolutions, afterwards recorded, and 
which even then had become his rule of conduct, was 
the following : "Whenever I see a Father or brother in 
need of assistance I will la}' aside everything to help 
him, if obedience does not prevent me from doing so." 
Hence, when he was not engaged in the church or in 
his workshop, he was seen helping the cook, the brother 
who had charge of the refectory, and sometimes the 
brother who held the office of porter, each according 
to the best of his ability. As the brother who baked 
the bread for the house had to exert himself very much 
at his work, Gerard would come to his assistance as 
often as he was free, and show himself most assiduous. 
"Let me do something," he would say to the brother, 
"I am younger; go now and rest yourself." 

While anxious to assist others he was extremely 
careful not to violate charity, and the desire to render 
service was removed from the arrogance and false zeal 
of those who pretend to know everything better than 
others, who are always intruding and meddling with 
the business of others. In regard to this matter he 
made the following rule : "I will never meddle with 
other peoples' concerns ; I will never attempt to say, 
'I do not like that,' 'That is not done properly,' or the 



THE LAY-BROTHEB. '.»:; 

like." In his anxiety not to molest any one, or to 
tempt others to impatience, he went so far as to lay 
down for himself the following resolutions: "When, in 
company with others, I am sent to discharge any duty, 
however mean or lowly it may be, such as sweeping, etc., 
I will never take precedence, or make use of the best 
tools; but I. will give up my own comfort in all things." 

This modest and unpretentious behavior of so able 
a lay-brother as Gerard was hot affected; it Mas not 
that smooth, false, and abject cringing which we often 
find among persons who serve to gain, or to please 
others. "What appeared in his exterior, lay deeply 
rooted in his interior. 

True humility was a characteristic of Gerard: but in 
his new state of life he practised it in such a high de- 
gree that we can say "lie no longer possesses it, but 
he was possessed by it." His brethren gave him the 
name: "II simbolo dell' umilta" (tin 1 image of humility I, 
a title truly deserved. As all those who at that time 
enjoyed his society unanimously testify, his conduct, 
bearing, language and all his actions bore the impress 
of unfeigned humility. Though he usually said noth- 
ing concerning himself, a brother who was very inti- 
mate with him found means of extorting from him what 
opinion he had of himself and thus became, as he says, 
a witness of the skill with which "Gerard would exhaust 
the dictionary of terms, of contempt and depreciation." 
He called himself the worst and last brother, a miser- 
able wretch, a dreadful sinner, a mere nothing. 1 ) All 
the good that he possessed he ascribed solely to the 

D If the saints call themselves "great, or very great sinners,"' 
we should not regard this mode of speaking either as untrue 
or as exaggerated. From their point of view — that of the 
liveliest faith and deepest humility — they could indeed speak 
thus. It is true that if in doing this they had a really exist- 
ing state of sin in view, that way of speaking would be inad- 
missible and untrue. But who could believe that the saints 



94 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

exceeding great goodness and mercy of God. He be- 
lieved himself unworthy to appear before God, and at 
prayer he was often seized with consternation, fear 
and confusion. Even hell, he thought was to good a 
place for him. "I find myself," he once wrote, "full of 
sin; pray to God that He may pardon me. All are 
converted, I alone remain hardened. I beseech you to 
perform some act of penance for me, that God may 
have mercy on me and receive me again into His favor." 
On another occasion he thus expressed himself to an 
intimate friend : "Alas ! I am no longer a human being, 
for I permit myself to be overcome by my passions and 
evil inclinations." 

In view of these sentiments of humility, which reign- 
ed in the heart of the servant of God, we can easily 
imagine the discomfort he felt when any one praised 

intend by the expression "great sinner" to point to a really 
sinful state of the soul? If they call themselves sinners, they 
have not before their eyes the sinful act, but the tendency to 
sin, that continually existing frailty of the human soul in the 
present state of probation: that possibility of falling into sin, 
which is prevented only by the grace of God. This tendency 
they have before their eyes, and because their eyes are puri- 
fied by deep humility, sharpened by heroic faith, they behold it 
as a yawning, infinitely deep abyss. They see that they are 
capable of falling into an infinite number of sins, of becoming 
addicted to endless malice, and in all this they see only, per- 
fect truth. From this point of view they then rightly call 
themselves "sinners," namely, beings who in themselves and 
in consequence of their weakness can produce only what is 
bad, and who would without God's grace plunge themselves 
from one sin into another. They call themselves "sinners" 
in the same manner as one calls every creature a nothing. 
For as it is nothing, not in reality, but only so far as it does 
not carry in itself the cause of being, and consequently can 
sink into nothingness whence it was taken, and from which 
only God's omnipotence separates it, so also are saints "sin- 
ners" not in realty, but so far as they have not in themselves 
the cause of sanctity, and consequently can sink into sins 
whence God's grace has drawn them, and from which it alone 
separates them. 



i iik L&Y-BBOTHEB. , . | ~> 

his virtue, or spoke of liis extraordinary gifts. Such 
language appeared to him sinful and as it were blas- 
phemous; accordingly, lie quickly put an end to it 
whenever it was in his power t<> do bo. He rejoiced 
when he was insulted; and whenever he was called a fool 
or a block-head he was pleased t<> listen to this abuse as 
if it were delicious music. He used to Bay th.it he was 
undeserving the bread which was given him, and thai he 
was imposing on the Community. He was delighted 
when permission was granted him to eat the fragments 
left after meals, and said, "it was proper that lie should 
take his meals on his knees among the lowliest." When 
slighted and treated as a beggar, or employed to do 
menial and most despicable work, he was much pleas- 
ed, and never exhibited the least sign of annoyance. 
On the contrary, he eagerly Bought to engage in those 
employments for which others had an aversion, a id 
which afforded no occasion for the display of vanity. 

The humiliations to which he was frequently subject- 
ed by his superiors, either to chide a mistake or a fault, 
or to try him, he submitted with that happy tranquility 
which proceeds only from the conviction that they are 
deserved. He did not exonerate himself, even when 
he could easily have done so. It was his opinion that, 
strictly speaking, no person should speak of humiliat- 
ions, as nothing can prove a humiliation for a creature. 
"Man," he said, "is a worm, a mere nothing, if God 
does not govern and protect him by his power and 
providence. Therefore he should not say : 'I humble 
myself,' for whoever speaks in this manner believes 
that he is something. Jesus Christ alone could say 
that He was humbled ; for though He was the infinite 
God, He became man ; and though He was the Lord, 
He made Himself a servant." 

The servant of God did not show himself less perfect 
in obedience than in humilitv. Later on, the sjood 



96 THE LAY-BE OTHER. 

brother was called a "saint of obedience." During his 
novitiate and while at Iliceto, he distinguished himself 
in a most heroic degree, by his obedience. Gerard paid 
the most childlike obedience to all points of the Rules of 
the Institute. He valued them so highly that he was 
not satisfied to read and reflect on them often, but he 
applied himself to the task of committing them to 
memory. Owing to his diligence he succeeded so well, 
that he knew them by heart, not only as to their mean- 
ing, but word for word. "If the Rules should be lost," 
said one of his brethren, "Brother Gerard could easily 
restore them, and not an iota would be wanting ; he 
knows them so well." By this exact observance of the 
holy Rules, he proved how highly he esteemed them. 
In this he Avas a model for all, and was regarded by 
everyone as a mirror of regular observance. He Avas 
so exact and scrupulous in keeping the Rules, that 
when sometimes he was not able to perform certain 
exercises prescribed during the day, he employed the 
night to supply the loss, though he was not obliged to 
do so. Even in trifling points he adhered strictly to 
what the Rules commanded, and did not dare transgress 
them. He believed that a little fault is followed by a 
great fault, the first by a second and a third, etc., 
"Give me, O Lord, the courage faithfully to observe 
Thy holy law ! Oh, if it were my misfortune to deviate 
from it the slightest I should very soon remove far from 
it ; for Thou permittest those who despise that which 
is little to fall into that which is greater." In speak- 
ing of faults against the Rule he once gave expression 
to the following : "Dear brethren ! let vis fulfil every- 
thing, even what is most insignificant with solicitous 
exactness, if Ave do not Avish to fall into great sins ; 
God permits this in order to punish us." On another 
occasion he said : "If we are careless in committing 
little faults, God may punish us, by alloAving us to fall 



THE LAY-BROTHER. 97 

into great sins. David, who was a man according to 

God's heart, is a proof of this." 

Faithfully obedient as Gerard was to the holy Rules, 
he was not less faithful in obeying the commands of 
his Superiors, because he recognized in both the mani- 
fest will of God. 

"My God ! for the love of Thee I will obey my Super- 
iors, and I will obey them as if Thou wert speaking to 
me. I will so abandon all self-will, that I will act as 
if my judgment and will were to be found only in the 
judgment and will of him who commands me." He 
also said: "Obedience toward my Superior must be 
my guide to Paradise. The will of my divine Master, 
and the will of my Superior, are to me one and the s;i un- 
tiling." 

Sustained by these exalted sentiments in reference 
to holy obedience, he surrendered himself perfectly to 
the direction of his Superiors, and wished to do the 
most trifling things from a motive of obedience. "Ah!" 
he said, "why should Ave loose the merit of obedience 
for such a trifle!" It was therefore an easy matter for 
him to acquiesce with docility to the Avishes of the 
Superior: a nod, a gesture, a look sufficed. "In a cer- 
tain way," says the biographer, Father Tannoja, "he 
worshipped the thoughts of his Superiors." Gerard's 
Superiors had to be very cautious in giving orders ; 
they were obliged to use very definite and plain terms, 
if they did not wish him to perform things which indeed 
corresponded to the literal meaning of the commands, 
but were in accordance with their wishes. The force of 
the inclination to obey, completely repressed the inclina- 
tion to reflect on the signification of the command; nay 
more, it did not even permit him to examine into the 
meaning of the w T ords. 9 It seemed to him that Jesus 

J ) This manner of practising obedience, which we meet in 
many holy privileged souls, is to be admired, but should by 



98 THE LAY-BROTHEIt. 

Christ stood before him and gave him the commands 
in person ; so that there was nothing on his part left 
to be done except the accomplishment of what the 
words of the order conveyed. He never doubted that 
the command was right, proper and feasible. Gerard, 
therefore, obeyed all the commands of the Superiors 
with the most astonishing simplicity. 

When, one day, Father Cafaro told him that he 
should mako his manifestation of conscience to another 
lay-brother, Gerard did so immediately, without repug- 
nance, and performed the duty with as much exactness 
as if the brother were his director, and knew his in- 
terior. 

More than once, God acknowledged this great simpli- 
city in a very wonderful way, to show that he was pleas- 
ed with the exactness of Gerard's obedience. On one 
occasion he received from the Superior, Father Cafaro, 
the positive order that as soon as the bell would ring 

no means be imitated. It is the fruit of an exceedingly ar- 
dent, living faith, of perfect self-denial, and we might say, of 
an ecstatic joy in doing the divine will as manifested in the will 
of the Superior. What these souls omit unconsciously under 
the pressure of the Holy Spirit, namely, the reflection about 
the value and the meaning of the words spoken by the Super- 
ior, we are not allowed to give up knowingly and voluntarily. 
To him whom a higher power, an impulse of the Holy Ghost,, 
does not prevent from rightly fulfiling the duty of obedience, 
this reflection is just as necessary as readiness, exactness, 
promptness in executing the order that has been given. For 
obedience does not require that we should perform what the 
words of the Superior express in their literal meaning, but 
that we should act according to his will, of which those words 
are the signs, and that we consequently should examine in 
which sense he employed those words. This examination 
is not in the least opposed to the blindness which is demand- 
ed of religious obedience; for this blindness does not at all 
consist in this, that we omit to inquire into the meaning of 
the order received, but solely' in this, that in regard to the 
motives or intentions of the Superior we pass no judgment, 
but simply obey orders, for the reason that they are given by 
the Superiors, who take the place of God. 



THE LAY-BR0THEK. 99 

lie should leave every thing and immediately hasten to 
the door. Soon after ho had received the command, 
he had occasion to go down into the cellar to draw- 
some wine. Whilo standing before the cask and re- 
ceiving wine into a vessel the door-hell rang. Instant- 
ly without taking time to close the faucet, he hm i i< d 
away with the half-tilled vessel. When he reached 
the door ho was met by Father Rector, who reprimand- 
ed him for going about with the vessel in his hand, 
and asked him why he did so. "Tour Reverence," 
Gerard answered, "told me to discontinue my work and 
answer the call of the door-hell without delay, I heard 
the bell ring when I was getting wine from the cask; 
this is the reason why I have come here in this condi- 
tion." "Oh! you are an awkward man," said Father 
Cafaro, with a gesture of disapproval — "go, and creep 
into the oven !" (Va t'inforna!) This jocose express- 
ion, which Father Cafaro liked to use to give vent to 
his displeasure in regard to the conduct of others an. I 
which was used by way of mere exclamation was liter- 
ally accepted by Gerard, and he actually crept into 
the oven. A short time afterwards the baker came to 
light a tire in it, and was astonished to find the servant 
of God in it as immovable as a log of wood. He could 
not, of course, understand why Brother Gerard hail 
selected this strange place for a hermitage, and he 
wished to persuade him to come out of it. But Gerard 
would not do so, and said that he was there by the com- 
mand of the Superior, and only at his command could 
he leave the place. The baker then hastened to the 
Superior and informed him of his discovery; he stated 
that Gerard was in the oven and would not come out, 
because he was there in obedience. "O my God!" 
cried Father Cafaro, when he heard this, remembering 
his words ; "with this brother one must weigh even- 
word, for he obevs blindlv. "But." said he, turning to 



100 THE LAY-BROTHER. 

the baker, recalling the circumstance of Gerard's com- 
ing from the cellar, "with the half -rilled vessel, "go 
quickly into the cellar ; I told him that he must leave 
every thing at the first sound of the bell ; it is possible 
that he did not even turn the crank of the cask." The 
brother hurried to the cellar before he called Gerard 
from his place of concealment. It Mas really so ; the 
faucet had not been closed ; but, wonderful to relate, 
not a drop of wine had run out of the cask. Greatly 
astonished, he related what he had seen to Father 
Cafaro. The latter struck his forehead as if in self- 
reproach, and raising his eyes to heaven he said with 
emotion : "God is dealing with this brother in a singu- 
lar manner! We must let him act according to the 
spirit that is leading him." 

Many similar incidents of blind obedience occurred 
during Gerard's stay at Iliceto. We shall relate one 
more. One day he received the order to go to Ascoli, 
a little town near Iliceto, to attend to some business. 
He Avas told to set out "immediately." He started on 
his journey without exchanging the large house-shoes 
which the brothers were accustomed to wear in the 
house at that time. No doubt, brothers of the convent 
of "Mary of Consolation" had often been seen in the 
public square of Ascoli, but none of them wore such 
shoes. A crowd of merry lads gathered around him 
laughing and jeering at Gerard's shoes. Though the 
merriment Avas at his oaau expense, the pious religious 
was much amused. 

The servant of God at one time found an excellent 
opportunity to prove the purity and sublimity of the 
motives Avhich influenced him in the exercise of obedi- 
ence. This happened towards the end of his first noA'i- 
tiate, in April, 1750. Father Cafaro Avas absent on a 
mission in Melfi, Avhich St. Alphonsus Avas inAited to 
give by the bishop, Monsignor Basta ; and as all the 



TlIK LAY-BROTHER. 101 

elder Fathers of the house took part in the mission, 
the care of the bouse was confided to a younger Father, 
named Matthew Oriscuoli. Father Crisouoli was of a 
melancholy temperament, given i<> extravagant ideas, 
and capricious in the highest degree. A feu years 
afterwards (1754) he was obliged to Leave the Congre- 
gation, because he did not wish fco exert bimseli t<» 
correct his faults. No one was Less competent khan 
Criscuoli to direct even so small a community, as was 
afterwards clearly proved. Previously, however, one 
would not have believed this, and Father Cafaro, who 
appointed liini to substitute him for a few weeks, did 
not suspect that he was unfit for such an office. Per- 
haps God permitted this error on the pari of Father 
Cafaro, in order to bring to light the \ irtues of Brother 
Gerard. The perverseness <>f Father Criscuoli, his 
fickleness, his bitterness and his measureless humilia- 
tions proved keen suffering for the whole Community. 
Precedence in all this was given to the saintly servant 
of God, "who became the butt of his daily reproofs and 
accusations; he never had a kind word for him. The poor 
brother could not stir without exciting the anger of the 
ill-tempered Father. The corrections that he received 
never came to an end ; penances were heaped upon 
penances, and nearly every day Gerard was forced to 
take his meals on his knees. Besides fasting on bread 
and water, the good brother was obliged to make fifty 
or sixty crosses with his tongue on the floor. This 
penance lasted for a whole month, and ended only 
when his tongue became so lacerated that he stain- 
ed the tioor with blood. All this would not have been 
painful to the servant of God, who was accustom- 
ed to the practice of the most rigid penance; but Father 
Criscuoli in his unreasonable zeal presumed to forbid 
him Holy Communion; and this was incomparably 
more bitter than if he had suffered hunger and thirst 



102 THE LAY-BEOTHER. 

for days, and had been subjected to the most outrageous 
treatment. Gerard, however, was so calm and resign- 
ed that his brethren were not only astonished, but filled 
with the greatest reverence towards him. Father 
Tannoja, who was at this time a student at Iliceto and 
a witness of all this declared : "Either this brother is 
a fool, who does not understand the humiliations to 
which he is uselessly subjected, or he is a saint, who 
has arrived at an eminent degree of the love of God." 
The latter was indeed the case. It was the advanced 
sanctity of the holy brother and his great love for God 
which made these humiliations easy and supportable. 
It was his lively faith that strenghtened him not to 
view things wrongfully and not to fail to see in the un- 
worthy instrument the hand of God his Master Who 
used it. 



CHAPTER YIT. 

The Celestial Liee Of The Novice. 



What mainly distinguishes the lay-brother <>f the 
convent from the ordinary workman in the world is, us 
has already been remarked, the facility to bring into as 
easy, sweet, and harmonious union, manual labor and 
prayer, so thai prayer, as it were, penetrates and puri- 
fies the work, and mingles with it good intentions, fre- 
quent ejaculatory prayers, as also the spirit of devotion, 
of reverence for God, and of longing for sacrifice. 

Brother Gerard had pretty well acquired this facility 
while yet in the world. This was perfected in the 
novitiate. As to his external occupation, he attained 
the highest eminence in the art of leading an interior 
life. 

"With Gerard," says Father Tannoja, "labor was not 
separated from the spirit of prayer. Though he work- 
ed hard during the day, he retired to the church at 
night, and shed an abundance of tears before the Bles- 
sed Sacrament. The practices of piety prescribed by 
the Rule did not satisfy his heart; he therefore applied 
himself to interior prayer Avith such zeal and persever- 
ance, that in the morning he was often on the very 
spot where he had been seen the evening before. Pray- 
er was everything to him, and however distracting the 
labors which he had to perform, he walked in the pres- 
ence of God. He was always profoundly recollected, 
his ejaculatory prayers were frequent, and the words 
'Jesus and Mary' were ever in his heart and on his 
lips. At times he was so absorbed in God that 
he would suddenly cease to. work, as if he had forgot- 
ten it." 

The servant of God was imbued with the spirit of 



104 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

Tecollectedness to stich an extent that Father cle Ruber- 
tis thought himself justified in asserting that Gerard had 
attained, in a high degree, the practice of constant and 
uninterrupted communion with God. Moreover, from 
Father Giovenale, who lived with him at that time 
at Iliceto, we have preserved a statement which con- 
firms this assertion. 

"I remember," says Father Giovenale, "that one day 
in Chapter, Father Cafaro commanded him not to think 
continually of God. But what could he do ? God drew 
him with an irresistible power. And yet he did not 
wish to disobey. He would then walk through the 
corridors of the house, sighing 'O my God! I do not 
want You now ; I do not want You !' " 

Sometimes the contemplation of God threw him into 
an ecstasy and deprived him of the use of his senses. 
Gradually, the soul of the servant of God became so 
susceptible of divine love, that often a picture, a sound, 
a pious word, were sufficient to snatch him from the 
external world, and to throw him into an ecstasy. Thus 
he was once going down stairs to take some gentlemen 
who were making their retreat in our house to the 
dining-room, when he accidentally glanced at a picture 
of the Immaculate Conception, hanging on the wall 
opposite the stair-case, when he fell into an ecstasy 
which lasted a considerable time, to the great astonish- 
ment of those who were present. 

On another occasion he was appointed to serve at 
table while several young men were making a retreat, 
previous to their ordination. In this room there was 
a picture of the Ecce Homo hanging on the wall. "While 
Gerard was performing his work, a glance on the pic- 
ture was sufficient to rouse his love of God, and he 
fell into an ecstasy. His eyes were rigidly and immov- 
ably fixed on the picture, his arms were outstretched, 
his whole bodv motionless. In one hand he held a 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVIOB. L06 

napkin, in the other a fork. In this condition he was 
found by a lay-brother. When the latter saw that 
Gerard had not yet finished his work, and there was 
very little time left, he wished to awake him from his 
ecstasy, and culled him by name. But Gerard heard 
nothing.' The brother then raised his voice, yet Ger- 
ard did not move. Father Oafaro had to be called. 
The latter then seized him by the arm, and command- 
ed him to revive. Gerard regained consciousness im- 
mediately. Father Cafaro, however, in order to humble 
him gave him a sharp reprimand, which the servant of 
God received with his usual calmness and resignation. 

While engaged in very ordinary occupations, which 
afforded no occasion for any special emotion of the 
heart — for instance, when he was taking his meals — 
such a plentitude of sublime thoughts and sentiments 
often surprised him that he could not resist them. 
The Fathers Giovenale and Cay one, as also Brother 
Kendina, testify that at table Gerard frequently burst 
into tears, and whether he was thinking of the goodness 
of God Who furnished him with food, or that some 
other holy thought suddenl}' and powerfully took pos- 
session of his mind, he was not far from falling into an 
ecstasy. He raised his eyes to heaven, and his whole 
demeanor betrayed an expression of the deepest de- 
votion and astonishment. The secret of his extraor- 
dinary interior recollectedness was his intimate union 
with the will of God. He did not aspire to ecstasies 
and spiritual consolations, but rather to accomplish 
the will of God in all things as perfectly as possible. 

"I wish," he said, "to love God, I wish always to be 
with God, and to do every thing for the love of God." 

"The centre of all love for God," he however said, 
"consists in giving ourselves entirely to God by being 
in all things conformable to the divine will, and re- 
maining in this conformity for all eternity."' 



106 THE CELERIIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

"O will of God!" lie once cried out, "O will of God! 
liow happy is he who understands how to wish nothing 
else than what God wishes !" 

To obtain a higher degree of love for the adorable 
will of God, he united all his meditations, devotions, 
penances, and pious exercises with the great mysteries 
in which God manifests His love. It afforded him a 
delightful opportunity of living as it were the life of 
the Church, in her annual celebrations of these mys- 
teries. 

It was above all the Mystery of the Redemption by 
which he sought to enkindle the fire of his devotion, 
and from which he eagerly drew interior vigor. The 
Crucified was the favorite subject of his meditations ; 
to hear any one speak of the sufferings of Christ, or to 
see a picture of Him, was sufficient to throw him into 
an ecstasy ; and during the time in which the Church 
reminds the faithful of this great mystery, he entered 
into the meditation of it in such a manner that he him- 
self seemed to suffer with our Saviour. He seemed 
on these occasions, especially in Holy Week, like a man 
in his agony, and about to breathe his last. Again, 
when the church was celebrating the closing of our 
Lord's tomb, it appeared as if he were no longer among 
the living, but that he was buried with our Lord. 
"Alas!" he was heard to say; "Jesus Christ died for 
me, and I do not die for Him." 

But the Passion of our Lord had moved Gerard 
while yet in the world, not only to sympathy, but to 
endeavor as far as possible to show it in himself, by 
becoming also exteriorly like our divine Saviour. It 
was a yet stronger factor in his religious career. 

"Christ crucified," says Father Tannoja, "was a book, 
from which he constantly read ; the more he read in it, 
the more it appeared to him necessary that he should 
torture his own bodv." 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 107 

Iii fact he believed that a love for our Lord could 
not be acquired without mortification of the body. 
"The love of God" he used to say, "camiot euter a soul 
if the body is too well treated." (se il cannarone e 
ripieno.) He therefore treated it, we might say, not 
unlike the manner in which the executioners treated 
our Lord. We will simply make mention of the fast- 
ing on bread and water, of the practice of rendering 
his food and drink distasteful by means of wormwood 
and aloes ; of the hair cloth which he wore ; of the 
little iron chains which he used to fasten around his 
limbs. We do not wish to speak at length of the 
scourgings which he now undertook not less unmerci- 
fully than in former days, and for which he often used 
the most frightful instruments, such as hard knotted 
cords or scourges furnished with twelve sharp-edged 
iron stars, which he used in such a way that the place 
where he performed this penance was bespattered with 
blood. We shall speak of one torture only which the 
saintly brother inflicted upon himself by way of imita- 
tating the sufferings of our Lord, which is unexampled. 
Had we not authentic testimony concerning the matter 
we should regard it as incredible, and should pass it 
over in silence. 

The reader will remember the grotto situated at the 
foot of the hill on which the convent stood, and in 
which Blessed Felix of Corsauo had devoted himself 
to contemplation and penance. This grotto had become 
a favorite resort for Gerard ; here he meditated and 
prayed in solitude and quiet. Inflamed with the desire 
to become like our suffering Redeemer, he wished to 
inflict sufferings in which he might approach as near 
as possible the tortures of the scourging, the crowning 
with thorns, and the crucifixion. In order to accom- 
plish this, he induced a young man of Lacedogna, 
Andrew Longarelli, a Postulant of the house, to take the 



108 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

place of the cruel executioners who ill-treated our Lord, 
aud to do from a motive of love what they did through 
hatred. Longarelli knew the extra ordinary piety and 
the spirit of penance of Brother Gerard to bear the 
most intense sufferings with patience ; and he also 
knew that the servant of God never practised penances 
without the permission of his spiritual director. He 
therefore yielded to his earnest entreaties, and assisted 
him in the performance of bodily affliction. 

When Gerard wished to begin his meditation on the 
sufferings of Christ, he went with Longarelli into the 
grotto of Blessed Felix, Here the Postulant had first 
of all to tie Gerard's fettered hands to a beam, which 
was to represent the pillar of scourging, and then he 
had to strike him with wet cords until the blood trick- 
led to the ground from his shoulders. After the scourg- 
ing followed the crowning with thorns. A bundle of 
thorns reminded him of the crowning of our Lord with 
thorns. Gerard relentlessly pressed it on his head, 
and his companion had to strike it with a cane. 

Gerard, however, was not yet satisfied. One day he 
wished to represent in his person, as far as was pos- 
sible, the crucifixion. For this purpose he succeeded 
in procuring one of those large wooden crosses which 
the missionaries were accustomed to use in the erect- 
ion of Calvaries, and took it to the grotto. Longarelli 
had to fasten him to it with ropes ; and as he had read 
that when our Lord was nailed to the cross His limbs 
had to be forcibly drawn to their places, he also re- 
quested that his companion should violently pull and 
stretch his hands and feet. The pain which he suffer- 
ed must have been great, but for this diciple of the 
Crucified, ever thirsting for suffering, it was not intol- 
erable. He then ordered that a crown of thorns should 
be placed on his head ; and thus the picture of the 
Bedeemer was completed. 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 109 

When, occasionally, Longarelli moved to greater 
compassion, hesitated to scourge and bind him as cruel- 
ly as lie desired, or if he began to perform his task 
with greater pity and indulgence, Gerard burst into 
tears and begged and implored Longarelli to continue 
the work of charit} 7 which was so meritorious for him. 

The tortures in the grotto of Blessed Felix, lasted 
during a considerable time, but were afterwards for- 
bidden by Father Cafaro. From this time they ceased 
until a new Superior came and Gerard found new rea- 
son for repeating them, as we shall see later. 1) 

"Gerard's desire to participate in the sufferings of 
Jesus Christ was not without reward," as Father Tannoja 
remarks. "It pleased the Crucified to favor him with 
a grace which He bestowed upon but few of His ser- 
vants, such as St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catharine of 
Sienna : namely, of experiencing mystically the suffer- 
ings endured by Jesus Christ in His Passion. For this 
grace he had earnestly asked, and he received it. Al- 
though he looked strong and well on other days, he 
presented a changed appearance on Friday nights in 
consequence of this grace ; he seemed to be a man op- 
pressed with pain, very sick, and a great sufferer ; nay, 

*) The awful tortures to which the servant of God submit- 
ted, and the peculiarity of using the help of others in inflicting 
them, may seem to many a reader excessive and eccentric. 
That such a thing may be regarded as a general rule, we can 
easily admit. However, in order to form a correct judgement 
of the permissability of those tortures in the case of the ser- 
vant of God, we must consider that in passing judgment on 
forms which the saints have given to the practices of piety, 
and especially of penance, we must act just as we do when 
we pass judgment on the manners and customs of peoples. 
As in regard to the latter we are never permitted to use our 
own tastes, habits and inclinations as the rule for finding out 
what is right or wrong, so we are not allowed to do so when 
we are judging about those forms. Not every thing in the 
manners and ways of living that is suitable to one is suitable 
to another, and even where there is often the same urgent 



110 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

he even seemed to be in the agonies of death, and he 
often spat blood -while in this state. But the interior 
Bufferings which he had to endure, and the desolation 
of his spirit, were so great, that as he told his directors, 
they were beyond description. But on Saturday night 
he was quite himself again; the weakness vanished, 
and Gerard was able to perform the usual duties of the 
house." 

Besides the sublime mystery of the Redemption and 
of the Passion of Our Lord, which the servant of God 
made the subject of his meditations with special fond- 
ness, there were also three other mysteries of religion 
in which the thoughts and sentiments of his soul were 
occupied, and on which he was anxious that his spirit- 
ual life should depend. These were the mysteries of 
the Incarnation, of the Blessed Sacrament, and God's 
masterpiece of power and grace, — the Immaculate 
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Apart from the fact that the Child Jesus — the em- 
bodiment of benevolence and loving condescension on 
the part of the Most High — has always manifested 
reason, there are developed, in consequence of different ten- 
dencies of mind and heart, different manners and customs. 
The same thing happens in the case of the unessential forms 
of piety and penance which are, ia their development, left to 
the individual. With the greatest unity in fundamental things 
there may be developed in this respect, owing to different 
tendencies of mind and heart, a great diversity and even a 
certain opposition, which causes one form to create a dislike 
in the follower of another form. It would, however, be wrong 
to be misled by the feeling of dislike into passing a condemna- 
tory judgment about these different forms of piety and pen- 
ance. In pronouncing judgment in reference to the peculiarities 
of certain saints, we should moreover remember the saying of 
St. Agustine: "Give me one that loves and he will understand 
me." Again, in regard to these penances of Gerard, we must 
remark that other saints were herein his models. To speak 
of one more example: In the life of the missionary and spirit- 
ual man, Father Paul Segneri, S. J., are related practices of 
penance which are almost similar to these above described. 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVIl K. Ill 

the most fascinating attraction for holy souls, it was 
this same Child that at an early day had visibly ap- 
proached Gerard, and had led him into the extraordi- 
nary path on which he was now walking. The remem- 
brance of this benefit and grace was indelibly impressed 
upon him. Besides, the servant of God seemed sub- 
sequently to have been found worthy of being frequent- 
ly visited by the Holy Child. The latter was, however, 
the object of his meditations and veneration, which he 
needed not to select, because, having from the begin- 
ning loved and cherished Him, he kept Him always in 
sight. In his religious life he availed himself to this 
clear object with greater zeal, in order to inflame his 
love, to strengthen his desire for sufferings, and to ac- 
quire humility and simplicity of heart. 

His biographer, Father Tannoja, and others who were 
acquainted with him, narrate that his devotion to the 
Divine Child afforded him inexpressible consolation. 
The festival of Christmas filled him with holy joy, and 
he took special delight in decorating the crib and the 
church. The preparation of his soul for the graces of 
the feast was however, the greatest object of his de- 
sires. For this purpose he made a special novena, 
during which he observed a strict fast, and allowed 
himself very little sleep. Christmas-day he passed in 
the church, rapt in prayer, or in his cell, engaged in 
practices of penance. It was for him quite a heavenly 
night, and caused him to be as joyful as if he had heard 
the Hymn of Peace sung by the angels. 

The Most Blessed Sacrament had the same attraction 
for the servant of God as the Crib ; it had influenced 
him not only since his entrance into the convent, but 
he had long before felt its power. It now increased, 
and considerably strenghtened its efficiency in our lixj- 
brother. His devotion became incomparably ardent 
and tender. Perhaps in the convent he was not able 



112 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

to spend as much time before the altar as he was able 
to do previous to his entrance into religion, jet he sup- 
plied in fervor what he lacked in time. Before the altar 
he seemed to be aflame. Sometimes when the Most 
Blessed Sacrament was exposed for the adoration of the 
faithful, he could not conceal his interior ardor ; he lost 
consciousness and was absorbed in an ecstasy of love 
and joy. The time during which the Church represents 
to the faithful in a special manner this most adorable 
mystery produced in him the most lively feelings. On 
the feast of Corpus Christi and during its octave, Ger- 
ard walked about in a frame of mind the counterpart of 
that indescribable sadness which seemed to change him 
into a dying person on Good Friday. A visit to the 
Blessed Sacrament was one of his favorite practices. 
He generally employed every spare moment for this 
purpose. The office of sacristan was therefore that 
which particularly gratified him, since it gave him the 
opportunity to be near the altar, where he could pay 
hoinage to Jesus in the tabernacle, while at work. He 
also found free moments which he devoted to this holy 
occupation of love. For this he generally used the 
time which, according to the custom of the country, Avas 
allowed to the Fathers and brothers for their mid-day 
rest. Thus, while the others slept, he went to the church 
and prayed. He often did the same during the night. 
"It was a touching spectacle," says Father Tannoja, 
"to see how Gerard struggled sometimes, in conse- 
quence of his love for Jesus Christ and his spirit of 
obedience ; the latter, however, always gained the 
victory. Once when I was in the church unobserved 
by him, I saw that while he was bending the knee at 
the foot of the altar in order to leave the place, he was 
struggling to rise. As he did not feel himself free to 
do so, he cried out : 'Let me go, I have something to 
do.' He then hastily retired, as if he were tearing him- 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 113 

self away by main force from the Divine Presence." 

The love which the saintly brother entertained in his 
own heart toward the mystery of the Blessed Eucharist, 
he also endeavored to infuse into the hearts of those 
whom he met. It grieved him to see the churches 
empty and the public places thronged with people, 
and lie could not withstand his longing to induce and 
lead to our liord as many as possible, to visit and 
adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In order to 
effect this, he not only gave the good example himself, 
but he also had recourse to gentle encouragement and 
kind solicitation. Wherever he went, either at home 
or abroad, he sought to gain guards of honor for our 
Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. "It was to his efforts," 
as Father Taunoja testifies, "that the inhabitants of 
several districts are indebted for their present assiduity 
in visiting the Blessed Sacrament." 

Finally, as regards his devotion to the Blessed Vir- 
gin, he gave convincing proofs of its reality, ardor and 
activity, at an early age. While at Iliceto this devot- 
ion became more fervent and universal. 

The vigils of the feast of the Blessed Mother he al- 
ways spent in church in prayer and meditation ; also, 
he was accustomed, like a true son of St. Alphonsus, 
to celebrate with special prayers and all kinds of peni- 
tential exercises, those days of the novenas held in her 
honor. 

There were, however, three glories of the august Virgin 
Mary toward which he was more affectionately dispos- 
ed, and which he always contemplated: the divine 
Maternity, her dignity of Queen of Martyrs, and the 
Immaculate Conception. This last mystery had not 
then been solemnly declared a dogma of faith, but like 
all those souls who had penetrated more deeply into 
the life of the church, Gerard was always among the 
defenders of this most noble prerogative of Mary, re- 



114 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

garding which lie was of the same opinion as his breth- 
ren of the priesthood who bound themselves by a vow 
to defend it. 

The office of sacristan afforded him the desired op- 
portunity to show in various ways his love for Mary and 
his zeal for her honor, — an opportunity which he ne- 
ver failed to turn to account. In the same manner in 
which he encouraged others to visit the Blessed Sacra- 
ment, he led them to honor our Blessed Lady. He 
sought occasions to say a word about the devotion to 
her, and to recommend the making of sacrifices in her 
honor. He always had rosaries and scapulars on hand, 
and distributed them wherever he hoped to enkindle or 
to increase the devotion to Mary. When he was not 
able to influence the minds of the people in favor of his 
Queen, he at least decorated her altars with the same 
care and happy skill with which, in later days, and in 
his travels to different places, he understood how to ar- 
range and direct so many brilliant and edifying proces- 
sions, grand fireworks, the firing of guns and the like. 

We cannot doubt that this zeal bore fruit, and gain- 
ed not a few persons, who became very devout to the 
Blessed Virgin. Certain it is that his efforts did not 
remain without a special reward. More than once, our 
Blessed Lady expressed her benevolence toward her 
faithful servant in an extraordinary manner, during his 
stay at Iliceto. We have already mentioned that Ger- 
ard fell into a long and sweet ecstasy while he was one 
day looking at a picture of the Immaculate Conception; 
we may reasonably suppose that this was not the only 
occasion on which he received so signal a favor. 

The Reverend Fathers Giovenale, Petrella and Cayone 
tell us that the servant of God once enjoyed the great 
happiness of seeing the Mother of God, face to face. 
While he was keeping his usual nightly vigil in the 
church before her picture, she appeared to him in all 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 115 

her dazzling beauty, and assured him in a most tender 
manner of her love and favor. More than once she 
glorified his love and devotion to her in a striking man- 
ner. A surprising incident of the kind is related by 
Father Tannoja, who states the sources from -which he 
has drawn his information. 

One day Gerard was returning home accompanied 
by two young peasants, when In- came to a church 
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin which was situated 
near the road. Gerard made use of the opportunity 
to speak of the glories of his august Queen. He began 
therefore to speak of the Blessed Virgin, and was ere 
long overcome by an exuberant emotion. This joyous- 
ness increased to such an extent that he appeared 
transformed. Siiddenly he seized a piece of paper, and 
having written a few words upon it, he threw it into 
the air as if he wished to send a letter from this world 
to his heavenly Queen. The love, the joy of his soul 
overcame the law of gravitation in a wonderful manner; 
he leaped high into the air, and hurried forward, to 
the great astonishment of his companions, who were 
able to follow him only with their eyes. Not till the 
servant of God had passed over the distance of about 
half a mile in his ecstatic flight did the marvelous 
power which had raised him abate, and Gerard again 
approached. This event contributed much to make 
him known in the whole district, and to earn for him 
the reputation of being a great saint; for both the 
young men who were witnesses of the miracle spoke of 
it wherever they went. 

This ecstatic flight seems, however, to have awaken- 
ed in the servant of God all other marvelous powers. 
Having reached the door of the convent he found a 
young man of wretched appearance sitting there. The 
poor sick man was afflicted with a dreadful cancer in 
the leg, which seemed to be incurable. Having heard 



116 THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 

of Gerard's great sanctity, he resolved to have recourse 
to the servant of God. Owing to his earnest entreaties 
his parents had, with great difficulty, carried him to 
the door of the convent ; as Gerard was not at home, 
the afflicted man remained there awaiting his return. 
The patient's pitiable condition induced Gerard to ask 
him what was the matter. The suffering petitioner 
told him of his suffering and trials: he had always 
been very poor, but now since God had afflicted him 
with this ailment he was condemned to beg his bread. 
Gerard embraced the deeply distressed man, and ask- 
ed to see the diseased leg. He loosened the bandage 
himself and found that the limb was eaten away by 
a horrible, cancerous ulcer. He then stooped, and 
applying his lips to the ulcer, heroically suppressing 
all natural disgust, he sucked the nauseous matter 
from the wound. "Trust in God, my dear brother," 
he said ; "your wound will heal." Then he carefully 
bandaged the leg. At the same moment the young 
man felt freed from all pain. His joyful surprise 
at the happy change was so great that with tears of 
gratitude he cast himself at the feet of his benefactor. 
He called him a saint, — an angel of God. Gerard ex- 
horted him to practice virtue, gave him an alms, and 
dismissed him. The next morning, when the young 
man removed the bandage from the leg, he really found 
what Gerard had foretold, — the wound quite closed 
and healed. It was a source of unbounded joy and 
heartfelt gratitude. The young man who had been 
cured also began to proclaim Gerard's praises, and to 
demonstrate his sanctity and power, as seen in the 
miracles of his benefactor. 

The previously mentioned case of ecstatic flight was 
not the only one of the kind during Gerard's stay at 
Iliceto. A certain person named Magdalena de Flum- 
eri narrates an occurrence not less wonderful, of which 



THE CELESTIAL LIFE OF THE NOVICE. 117 

her aunt Kosaria Bertucci, was an eye-witness. It is 
recorded in the acts of the process of beatification. 
Magdalena narrates as follows : "Rosaria," she said, 
had led a pious life from her youth, and often visited 
the church of 'Mary of Consolation' for the purpose of 
going to confession. Now it happened that on one of 
those occasions, she met the great friend of God, — who 
was returning from Iliceto. He was well acquainted 
with her, and asked her to cany a garment (capotto) 
with which he entrusted her, to the house of the Fa- 
thers. Then, through modesty, he walked a little in ad- 
vance of her, until he came to a chapel which he enter- 
ed. When he again left her he was raised into the air 
with outstretched arms, and thus was earned for about 
a mile, from the chapel to the church of 'Mary of Con- 
solation.' My aunt who was a witness of this miracle, 
stood there transfixed and amazed, observing this won- 
derful flight. As long as she lived she regarded this 
memorable coincidence as most extraordinary and as- 
tonishing." 



CHAPTEK VIII. 

Austere Life And Charity Towards Others. 

It is characteristic of genuine piety that it awakens 
and nourishes in the heart of its possessor two desires 
which are apparently incompatible, but which are in 
reality in perfect harmony. We refer to austerity 
towards one's self and a tender and considerate love 
of our neighbor. "We know of Gerard's severity towards 
himself while he was still in the world ; it increased 
considerably after his entrance into religion. 

Whether Ave consider Gerard's cell, his garments, or 
his other personal wants, we shall everywhere find that 
he was contented with the least as well as the worst 
things. 

W 7 ith the permission of Father Cafaro, he had cho- 
sen a dark corner of the house which was formerly used 
by the Augustinians as a store room. His bed strictly 
speaking, might be called an instrument of torture. It 
consisted of a mattress padded with straw only along 
the edges, the middle being filled in with sharp stones; 
two tiles serving him for a pillow. On this hard couch 
he took a short rest, which he endeavored to lessen 
and interrupt by an inconvenient posture. 

This austerity he practiced till the end of his life. 
It was in Caposele that one of his brethren, actuated 
by curiosity, found upon examining Gerard's bed that 
it was filled with stones and thistles. 

The only piece of furniture which Gerard had in his 
cell was a miserable chair. He had placed a number 
of skulls around his bed. 

He thought he was deserving of such austerity and 
poverty, and considered a better dwelling too good for 
him. When asked by one of his brethren why he wish- 
ed to live so poor a life he answered : "I do it for the 
love of God and my Creator. I deserve it." 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 119 

When Monsiguor Basta, Bishop of Melfi, and Mon- 
signor Amato, Bishop of Lacedogna, came to Iliceto 
to make their retreat and saw Brother Gerard's cell, 
they did not find words to express their astonishment 
at the sight of snch extreme poverty and austerity. 

Later, however, to the great regret of the servant of 
God, an ordinary cell was assigned him, but he rarely 
occupied it. When strangers came to the house to make 
a retreat, or otherwise availed themselves of its hospital- 
ity, Gerard was always ready to give up his cell. If he 
found no hiding place that afforded him the desired 
mortification he would sleep in any other corner of the 
house, or on the floor of the church. The high altar Mas 
hollow and the space Avhich was shut off by a little door 
was large enough to lie in. He was happiest in the 
church near the Blessed Sacrament, just under the 
altar on which the sacrifice of the Mass was offered 
daily. Once, however, this pious practice caused him 
great annoyance. Probably after too long a vigil, Ger- 
ard had lain down there towards morning, to rest. 
Yery much fatigued, he had fallen into so deep a sleep 
that he did not wake till after the first Mass had been 
begun. The little bell that rang at the Consecration 
roused him. But now he could not come out of his 
hiding place without betraying his practice of morti- 
fication and causing astonishment and distraction to 
those who were present in the church. He was there- 
fore obliged to remain under the altar still longer. 

On other occasions when Gerard had to give up his 
cell to strangers, he retired for the night to the stable, 
and lay down to rest on the straw that was intended 
for the beasts of burden. 

When the Superior directed him to sleep as others 
did, to use a simple straw mattress and not to sleep on 
the hard floor or on stones, Gerard begged so earnest- 
ly and perseveringly that he might be permitted to 



120 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

continue his ordinary way of taking his rest that he 
finally prevailed on his spiritual director to allow him 
to sleep on a board three times a week, and to use two 
tiles for his pillow. He also received permission to 
fasten stones to his feet, and to encircle his temples 
with little iron chains while he was taking his nightly 
repose. 

The same austerity which Gerard practised as to his 
lodging and lied, he also showed a\ itli regard to the 
clothes he wore. Being the tailor of the house, it was 
his duty to distribute different articles of clothing, and 
he was thus enabled to clothe himself according to his 
own taste. While he gave to others new and good 
clothes, as a rule he selected for himself the oldest and 
worst. How poorly the good brother was often clad 
may be inferred from the fact that he was sometimes 
not recognized by outsiders familiar with the religious 
garb. The poverty of his dress gave rise to many mis- 
takes which were occasionally very comical, as we shall 
see further on. With all his poverty, he always had 
the highest regard for cleanliness, and was very far 
from seeking virtue in negligence and slovenliness. 

We have already had occasion to mention how aus- 
tere he was in regard to food, and merely wish to add 
that in all things he depended on divine Providence. 
It is true, he never neglected anything that was en- 
trusted to him in this matter ; but he was never anxious 
as the generality of people are even to provide for his 
necessities. 

"When he was sent from home to attend to some busi- 
ness, the Superior had always to give him directions as 
to how he should provide for his wants, for he himself 
thought as little about them as sparrows think of their 
food, relying with childlike simplicity upon the Provi- 
dence of God. 

One daj- he was sent to Terra d' Accadia. He set 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 121 

out early in the morning, and as Father Minister had 
forgotten to give him his breakfast before he left, he 
made the long journey without breaking his fast. When 
the good brother had arrived at the end of his journey 
he was so tired and weak that he fainted. To procure . 
food for himself on the way had never entered his mind. 

The measure of austerity which the servant of God 
exercised towards himself was also the measure of the 
charity which he exercised on behalf of others. Towards 
himself he was hard and rigid, even while he manifest- 
ed to his neighbor a kind of charity resembling mater- 
nal solicitude, which being sustained by the most sub- 
lime motives, extended to all persons. 

It is quite obvious that his own brethren were, in a 
pre-eminent degree, the first objects of Gerard's charity. 
We have already described how readily he assisted the 
lay -brothers working with him, and how anxious he 
was to do their work. We have also quoted the prin- 
ciples which he had laid down for his guidance, with 
respect to liis intercourse with the lay-brethren. We 
only wish to remark here that he conformed most per- 
fectly to these principles, and that he therefore became 
a model of brotherly love. 

In the position of tailor he had the best opportunity 
to practise this charity, and we are told that he never 
missed it ; that each day he gave proofs of attention 
and readiness to do favors for others. 

As glad as he was when he suffered personal want, 
so did it seem insupportable to him when others suffer- 
ed. One extremely cold winter he deprived himself of 
his warm waistcoat to give it to another who was in 
need of it, satisfied with his wretched threadbare outer 
garment. He never desired to have any thing more 
convenient than others had, and joyfully gave up what 
was better, being satisfied, as he expressed himself, 
"with whatever God allowed him to have. For then all 



122 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

will be contented, and I myself will also be satisfied." 

Gerard was particularly charitable towards the sick. 
If one of his brethren was sick, the saintly brother, 
though not appointed to nurse him, went to see him 
at least once a day to console him and to perform some 
little act of kindness. In general he showed attention 
and sympathy which were prudent as well as tender. 

Though Gerard's charity was directed to his own 
brethren in preference to others, the latter were not yet 
excluded from it. He gave the clearest proofs of this 
during his quiet life in the novitiate, and during the 
time that immediately followed it, even before ho was 
obliged to associate with the outside world. 

Canon Francis Anthony Sebatelli of Melfi was taken 
seriously ill on a visit to the house at Iliceto. He had 
not been particularly acquainted with the servant of 
God. The latter was nevertheless ready to render the 
sick man the necessary service, and watched day and 
night at his bedside. Sebatelli did not know that the 
obliging brother was depriving himself of his night's 
rest. His astonishment was therefore great when, one 
night, suddenly waking, he saw at the foot of the bed 
the good brother, who was anxiously watching him. 
Such great charity springing from the purest virtue 
edified the Canon in the highest degree, and in order 
to compensate the good brother he ever afterwards, 
extolled the holy brother's charity and goodness. 

Still more wonderful was Gerard's charity manifest- 
ed on another occasion ; a hermit lay dangerously ill 
in our house at Iliceto. The unfortunate hermit had 
hitherto only deceived the world and had by no means 
led the life which his dress betokened. The disease 
of which he was slowly dying was as horrible as it was 
fatal. His body diffused so offensive an odor that no 
one could approach him without feeling the greatest 
disgust, and he was shunned by all unless they were 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHEBS. 1'23 

obliged to visit liim. Gerard bestowed the most mag- 
nanimous attention upon this poor man. How the 
servant of God yearned to save the wretched Koul.of 
the hypocrite! However, his love and efforts were 
fruitless. In vain did he represent to the dying man 
the reasons for contrition and confidence in God ; in 
vain did he try to fan into flame the last spark of faith. 
The dying reprobate's heart remained insensible ; and 
as the imposter had despised so many graces, so he 
also dispised this last and greatest of all graces. He 
died impenitent, a most wretched death. Gerard never- 
theless thought he could continue the exercise of his 
charity, and recommended the soul of the deceased with 
great fervor to God. While he Avas once more praying 
for him, the miserable man appeared to him and said 
in a terrible voice : "Cease to pray for me ; I am dam- 
ned and I am damned by the just decree of the Almigh- 
ty!" Gerard was so horrified and frightened by this 
revelation, that during his whole life he remembered 
this occurrence with terror. 

Just about this time, perhaps to console him in his 
sadness and to increase his confidence, God permitted 
him to know that the divine power and help were still 
in an astonishing manner within his reach. 

In the little town of Iliceto there lived a young man 
who was lying hopelessly ill of consumption. His phy- 
sician had declared his inability to do any thing for 
him. "In order to help him," he said, "I should have 
the power to make a new lung." The sick man and his 
family, in their terror at so sad a prospect had recourse 
to heaven ; they had heard of Gerard's great sanctity, 
and of the power he possessed of working miracles. 
They asked Father Hector to give the brother permis- 
sion to visit the sick man. The Rector acceded to their 
wishes and the servant of God came to the house just 
as the physician was making his visit. In his presence 



124 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWAEDS OTHERS. 

Gerard now consoled the young man, encouraged him 
to become pious, and told him to place his confidence 
in God, "in Whose hands," he said, "are the destinies 
of men, and from Whom he might also expect the re- 
covery of his health." These words which were oppos- 
ed to the verdict of the physician naturally displeased 
the latter, he could not refrain from renewing his pre- 
vious statement in which he declared the invalid to be 
in a dangerous condition in the presence of the sick 
man and of the whole family. "He cannot recover* 
the lung is too far gone." 

"Well," said Gerard, who looked at things from a 
different point of view, "the lung may be decayed ; but 
do you believe that God Who is the Creator of all things 
could not supply a sound lung or restore the diseased 
one to its former healthy condition? May it be pleas- 
ing to God to work this miracle in order that confidence 
may be instilled in the hearts of His faithful, and 
they may be encouraged to call on Him for help, from 
Whom alone they can obtain it!" Having said this, he- 
arose to depart. The parents of the sick man then ask- 
ed Gerard to pray for him; to which the latter acquies- 
ced. He kept his word, and his prayers were wonder- 
fully efficacious. From this moment the condition of 
the sick man improved, and after a few days he was 
well. Everybody was astonished, especially the phy- 
sician who now admitted in the presence of all, that 
this cure was an undeniable miracle and that without a 
miracle it could never have been accomplished. 

The poor, as well as the sick, were the objects of Ger- 
ard's charity. Every poor man moved his feelings, and 
if help could be afforded it was always given. Even 
those who were placed in a momentary perplexitity 
could rely on the servant of God as a most ready helper. 

One day he met a poor man who was carrying a 
bundle of dry wood on his head, on his way to the con- ; 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 125 

vent, lie was walking along with great difficulty, under 
such a load. Gerard immediately came to his assist- 
ance, put the bundle on his shoulders, and carried it to 
the old man's hut. The same thing happened at 
St. Agatha di Puglie. Ascending a steep hill, he noticed 
a poor woman who had just been washing clothes in 
the river; the effort to walk up the hill with the wet 
and heavy clothes on her head almost took away her 
breath. He took the bundle from her at once and put 
it on his own head. On entering the town he felt some 
repugnance to appear publicly in this fashion. He 
overcame human respect most heriocally and carried 
the bundle through the public square of the town, and 
did not give the clothes to the owner until he had reach- 
ed the door of her house. 

"In this act of charity," say Father Tannoja, "he 
most faithfully imitated Brother Curzio, who used to 
exercise the like charity towards the street porters at 
Scala." 

We have another example of his charming readiness 
to serve others, when on a certain occasion he had to 
accompany several candidates for ordination he met a 
number of workmen between Melfi and Atela who were 
in great perplexity in consequence of the overflowing 
river. They had been engaged to do some work on 
the other side of the stream, but were afraid to pass 
through the water. Gerard was ready to help them 
immediately. He was on the other side of the stream 
and crossed it without delay on a horse ; one after the 
other, he carried them in succession safely across the 
river. Don Michele Pinto who was present, assures 
us of Gerard's confidence ; that he rode not as through 
raging torrents, but as if over solid ground. The holy 
brother anticipated no danger. To those who caution- 
ed him not to be too daring he made answer : "Carita 
del prossimo!" (Charity towards my neighbor); and en- 



126 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

couraging liis horse ; lie said : "Now my little horse, 
let us do something to please God." ("Cavallo mio, 
diamo gusto al nostro Dio !") 

Iu the course of the journey he and the candidates 
came to another river which they had to cross, and 
which, like the first was very much swollen. No ford 
could be seen. Gerard, however, was not perplexed. 
He acted towards the candidates as he had acted 
towards the workmen, and carried them separately in 
safety to the other shore. 

But, if charitable in temporal concerns, he was more 
zealous in his charity when eternal goods — the interests 
and salvation of souls — were at stake. 

Hence he constantly prayed for the Church, for her 
duffusion throughout the earth, for her chief Pastor 
the Pope, for bishops and priests, for the missionaries, 
especially for his own priestly brethren who were labor- 
ing in the pulpit and in the confessional for the honor 
of God and the salvation of souls. 

The thought that the world is so cold, that it is a 
stranger to God's love, was peculiarly painful and in- 
supportable to him. He longed to inflame the earth with 
the tire that he felt burning in his own bosom. Those 
souls who followed the inspiration of grace, who loved 
and served God with a generous heart, were to him a 
charming spectacle. It Avas difficult for him at times 
to conceal the joy it afforded him. 

On the contrary, the mere mention of sm caused him 
great sadness. He would willingly have given his life 
to prevent such an evil as sin. He often lost his 
habitual cheerfulness instantaneously, when he reflected 
that God is so often offended by man, and that the 
sufferings of Christ are rendered fruitless by sin. Then 
he would heave a deep sigh, and tears would trickle 
down his cheeks. 

\Ye can therefore easily understand that poor sinners 



AUSTEEE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 127 

were the principal objects of his charity. In fact, he 
would make the greatest sacrifices for their conversion. 
His good works, his prayers, his communions, his suf- 
ferings, -— everything — - he offered up to God for them. 

We may justly say that at this time his sentiments 
were not different from those to which he afterwards 
gave expression in the following words : "O my God! 
would that I could convert as many sinners as there 
are grains of sand on the sea-shore, leaves of trees and 
blades of grass on land, atoms in the air, stars in the 
firmament, — as many as there are rays of the sun and 
of the moon, and creatures which the world contains !" 

If the servant of God met a sinner and discovered 
the possibility of saving his soul, the simplicity of the 
brother was changed into energy, under the influence 
of hope and charity; his taciturnity into eloquence, 
his modesty into assurance; he then spoke in such a 
manner that no one could contradict his convincing 
arguments nor resist his holy importunity. Rarely did 
Gerard work in vain for the conversion of a sinner ; sel- 
dom did those who had been converted by him fall back 
into their old vices. When there was cpiestion of the 
saving of a soul, the servant of God knew neither 
human respect nor threatening danger, though he never 
transgressed the limits of his humble station, and he 
alw T ays retained that calmness which is peculiar to vir- 
tuous zeal, and which exerts such great influence over 
others. 

Between Iliceto and Fogg^a ^nere w r as a tract of land 
which belonged to the Duke of Bovino, which was in- 
tersected by a road leading to Foggia. Owing to this 
fact the duke's land suffered considerable damage and 
he wished to prevent persons from trespassing upon 
his property. He therefore hired a few guards, whose 
duty it was to warn travelers not to trespass. As it 
usually happens, these men, in obeying orders, exceed- 



128 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

ed the power which they had received, and treated 
people with great harshness, and even with blows. 

One day Gerard, who had been sent by his superior 
to Foggia to attend to some business, returned home 
by the forbidden road. He was riding on his horse, 
wholly unconscious that he was injuring any one, when 
suddenly the guard rushed upon him in great excitement 
and with a furious look. The guard was a ruffian ; a 
monster of cruelty rather than a human being. The 
fact that he treated the poor lay-brother so inhumanly, 
proved that what had been reported was true. Amid 
horrible curses he attacked the unsuspecting young 
man, began to strike him with the butt-end of his mus- 
ket, and finally inflicted a blow that broke one of Ger- 
ard's ribs, and caused him to fall senseless from his 
horse. With all this the fiend was not yet satisfied. 
He still continued to strike him without mercy, and 
finally he thrust the end of his weapon into his breast 
and sides. "I have long been wishing to revenge my- 
self on a monk," said the infuriated monster, "}ou have 
just come, and have most opportunely thrown yourself 
into my power." 

As he relaxed in his ill-treatment, Gerard cast him- 
self at the feet of his enemy, to ask pardon. "I do not 
want either excuses or pretexts," the guard answered, 
more furious than ever, and began to beat him again 
most unmercyfullv. When Gerard saw that he had a 
man before him whom fury had rendered quite insen- 
sible, he resigned himself to his fate, and clasping his 
hands he said: "Strike, brother, you have reason to do 
so; continue to strike!" 

This act of humility and of patience produced the 
same effect as cold water poured upon seething and 
foaming water. Such resignation, such calmness, so 
inconceivable a desire for sacrifice, vanquished the 
angry man ; he came to his senses, and as often hap- 



XlTSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 12!) 

pens with such persons, the frenzy of passion was fol- 
lowed by most vehement self-condemnation and heart- 
felt sorrow for having allowed it to control him to such 
an extent. The guard threw away his musket, struck 
his breast, and cried out with a voice choked with sobs: 
"What have I done ! Alas! What have I done ! I have 
killed a saint!" He then threw himself at the feet of 
■Gerard, begged his forgiveness, and asked him to for- 
get all that had just been done. 

The request was heartily granted. The servant of God 
embraced the penitent sinner, now doubly rejoiced on 
account of his wounds and pains, as he entertained the 
hope of winning the soul of the unfortunate man. He 
reiterated his excuses in all humility, and only request- 
ed the guard to help him mount his horse and to accom- 
pany him to the convent. 

While riding home no complaint about the treatment 
escaped Gerard's lips. He sadly lamented the pitiable 
condition of the soul of his guide ; he therefore spoke 
to him of those things which might induce him to re- 
flect seriously on his conversion. He impressed upon 
him, as well as he could, the heinousness of mortal sin, 
spoke of God Whom he had offended, and spoke of the 
fire of hell which he had deserved. He was only con- 
cerned about the salvation of this soul ; the thought of 
rescuing it from destruction constantly occupied his 
mind. 

He arrived at the convent half dead. He was at 
once questioned concerning the cause of his pitiable 
condition. Gerard, however, not wishing to expose 
his companion, and desiring to complete the work of 
love with the greatest tenderness, said nothing about 
the outrages he had suffered, but only spoke of a fall 
from his horse. Moreover, he praised the kindness 
shown him by the guard in accompanying him home, 
and knew how to exalt this slight kindly act in such 



130 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

a way that the guard received a recompense. Gerard 
left him with the following words: "Brother, what you 
have done to me, do to no other, lest you have cause 
to regret it." 

These new proofs of an unspeakable charity produc- 
ed a salutary effect on the intractable mind of the 
guard, so that he fully opened his heart to grace, and 
after he had publicly made known the whole occur- 
rence to the honor of the servant of God, he came 
to our house at Iliceto, where he made a general con- 
fession amid many tears and other extraordinary signs 
of contrition. Happy would he have been if he had 
never again left the road of penance. But he was a 
man of such character and disposition th;it persever- 
ance in a good life could have been gained only by the 
exertion of an iron will ; he was one of those unhappy 
beings who can disengage themselves from evil which 
has penetrated all their inclinations and desires, only In- 
constant and fervent prayer. This exertion was too 
much for the man, he had no desire to engage in a 
battle with himself, and thus again fell into the vice 
which he had lamented and detested with so many tears. 

One day while he was again discharging the duties 
of his office, he met a traveler, who was treated in the 
same manner as Gerard. He made a furious attack on 
him, and also began to ill-treat him, as he had done to 
Gerard, with blows and thrusts, because he had tres- 
passed on the grounds. The latter, however, was not 
so lamblike as the poor lay-brother of Iliceto, and 
jumped from his horse, snatched the musket from the 
guard, and struck him a blow that threw him to the 
ground half dead. The unfortunate man should have 
regarded this as a warning from God, but he did not, 
and though he soon recovered from his bodily wounds, 
his soul still remained wounded and miserable. A 
short time afterwards the tyranny of this incorrigible 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 131 

man bore its last sad fruit. In a new quarrel, a ball 
fired by an enemy struck him and deprived him of life 
as well as of the time for grace which he had so much 
abused. 

The lay-brother bitterly lamented the death of the 
guard. As long as Gerard lived, he remembered tlie 
unfortunate deceased, for, in consequence of the cruel 
blows which the man had inflicted upon him his breast 
was so affected that he frequently spat blood, and was 
often overcome by extreme weakness. He never spoke 
of the cause of this trouble. When one of the brothers 
surprised him while he had another hemorrhage and 
was going to tell the Superior of it, Gerard prevented 
him from doing so. "O my brother," said he to him, 
with that humility which deems itself unworthy of any 
care and attention, "you will confer a great charity on 
me if you say nothing about this. Do not speak of it, 
I beg of you, for I have often had such attacks, and I 
never felt myself obliged to mention this trouble to any 
one." 

Though the charity which Gerard revealed in the 
conversion of the unfortunate guard was not accom- 
panied by a permanent result, his zeal was crowned in 
a hundred other cases with success in the realization 
of his wishes. His efforts brought conversions which 
were as complete and lasting as they were wonderful, 
and the .house at Iliceto was in this respect a witness 
of the most astonishing occurrences in regard to changes 
that were wrought in men's souls. 

Among those who had come to Iliceto to make their 
retreat there was a gentleman of high standing. He 
wished to put the affairs of his conscience in order, 
and began the spiritual exercises with a good intention. 
But scarcely had he *begun them than he lost his peace 
of mind by a continual and vehement temptation to 
despair. The devil excited this in him, by pointing out 



132 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHEliS. 

the many sins he had committed, his ingratitude, and 
the difficulty of effecting a true and perfect amendment 
of life. The poor sinner lost all courage. He lost hope 
and the inclination to work successfully for the salva- 
tion of his soul, which appeared to him quite useless. 
He finally resolved to return home and not to trouble 
himself about this matter. Gerard met him in this 
frame of mind. Being inspired by God, the servant of 
God knew the storm that was raging in the heart of 
the unhappy man, and observed his increasing despon- 
dency. He therefore hastened to offer him relief. 
Without making a long introduction, he thus addressed 
him: "What is the matter with you? Banish this mis- 
trust; it comes from hell; for God and the Blessed 
Virgin are obliged to help you." This kind of language 
made the nobleman blush ; he felt that his interior had 
been read, and he was consoled and strengthened in 
such a manner that he was at once free from the temp- 
tation. He then banished all gloomy thoughts, and 
grace triumphed. 

Another person, Avhile making his retreat, had yield- 
ed to the temptation to make an insincere confession, 
and yet he wished to participate in the general Com- 
munion which was held in the church, and had already 
gone there, when Gerard, who was praying in the gal- 
lery, became enlightened from on high in regard to the 
interior of this man. Going down to him he called him 
aside and represented to him with impressive words 
the dreadful crime which he was about to commit. 
Great was the astonishment, and overpowering the con- 
fusion of the sinner. The scales fell from his eyes, and 
what he formerly knew but did not regard, — the enor- 
mity of his malice, — he now realized, and hastened to 
seek a confessor, to whom he sincerely and humbly 
acknowledged all his sins. In the excess of his repen- 
tance he immediatelv went to the church in which all 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 133 

had assembled, fell on his knees, and said in an aud- 
ible voice : "I have been ashamed to confess my sins 
to the servant of the Lord, but Brother Gerard made 
them all known to me, and now I acknowledge them 
before all men, to my own confusion." The repentant 
man would really have made a public confession of his 
sins, had not a Father who was present emphatically 
forbidden him to do so. 

The servant of God performed a similar, yet greater 
and more wonderful act of charity, in behalf of a priest 
whom Monsignor Amato Bishop of Lacedogna, had 
sent to oiti* house at Iliceto, for the purpose of making 
a retreat. This man had brought great shame upon 
his sacred calling by a public scandel that had lasted 
many years. Severity and kindness failed to produce 
any effect. Exteriorly, he made the spiritual exercises 
that had been forced upon him, in such a way that all 
were edified; but interiorly he was unchanged, and 
ready to continue his disgraceful mode of Living. 

In order to wear the mask of the hypocrite till the 
end, he also wished, like the others who were making 
retreat, to approach Holy Communion on the appoint- 
ed day. On his way to church for this purpose he was 
met by the servant of God. Gerard detained him and 
said: "Where are you going?" "I am going to Com- 
munion," said the wretched man. "To Communion!" 
answered Gerard, in a tone of voice which expressed 
horror, indignation, and reproof at the same time. "To 
Communion ! you are going to Communion ! And this 
sin and that and that you did not confess ! Go back 
and make your confession, but make a good confession, 
if you do not wish the earth to open and swallow you!" 
Greatly moved by language so powerful, which pre- 
supposed a supernatural insight into his interior, the 
priest repented, confessed his sins, and made a firm 
and sincere resolution to change his life. 



134 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

With the best resolves he then left the house of the 
Redemptorists, and returned to his home. However, 
the fervor of his zeal lasted only a few months. Later 
on, it again grew cold and the unfortunate man turned 
back to the evil which he had left, becoming worse 
than formerly. m 

Nevertheless, the following year, he again came to 
Iliceto in order to make his retreat with the Fathers. 
Human respect had forced him again to assume the 
mask of the hypocrite, and as if he had forgotten the 
power of Gerard's eye, he dared to say to him in answer 
to a question about the state of his conscience, that all 
was well with him, thank God, and that he had not re- 
lapsed into his former faults. Yet the servant of God 
could not be deceived. Inspired by God, he knew as 
well as he did before, the real condition of the man's 
soul, and was deeply grieved at the bold lie, which 
convinced him that the wretched man had again fallen 
into the snares of the "Father of lies." 

His zeal for souls encouraged him to hope for the sal- 
vation of this soul, however discouraging the prospect 
seemed to be. He now employed the most efficacious 
means to accomplish this difficult undertaking. He 
most fervently begged God to furnish him with power, 
charity, and patience. Then he took a crucifix, and 
proceeded to the room which had been assigned to the 
priest. 

Having entered, he immediately shut the door and 
windows. He was very much agitated ; in his heart 
there was an ebb and flow of the most ardent zeal, the 
most tender love and just indignation, which were re- 
flected in his eyes, his manner, and his bearing. With- 
out any introduction, the servant of God began the 
subject and thus addressed the priest: "What does all 
this mean, my dear sir? You have dared to offend 
God in this manner ! Alas, you ungrateful and wretch- 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 13o 

ed liar ! How is this ? Yoii have done nothing ? You 
have not relapsed ? Look at these wounds of Jesus 
Christ! Meditate on them! Who caused them, if not your 
wicked deeds ? Yon have made this blood now from 
His veins?" Saying this Gerard held the crucifix be- 
fore the eyes of the sinner ; and behold ! from its hands 
and feet there flowed real blood, — a miracle which 
did not fail to make ah impression on the mind of the 
poor priest. 

But the lay-brother continued his soul-stirring ap- 
peal. "What evil has your God inflicted upon yon?" 
he said with increased energy. "For you He wished to 
be born an infant in the stable ; for you He lay on the 
straw, deprived of all things L" "While Gerard was 
speaking, the priest saw the Infant Jesus in the hands 
of the brother. 

Yet Gerard ceased not to speak. "What!" he again 
said to the sinner, "}"ou dare to insult your God, to in- 
sult Him in such a manner! Alas, you remember that 
no one can do this with impunity ! God is good, but 
in the end He chastises and punishes. You also, if 
you do not put an end to your wickedness, will surely 
experience this. What then will await you — see here!" 
Gerard made a sign with his hand, and before the eyes 
of the sinner there stood a horrible demon, who with 
threatening aspect turned towards him as if wishing to 
attack him and cany him off. The sinner trembled, 
and Avas struck dumb with terror. "Begone, you un- 
clean beast!" said Gerard, when he noticed what effect 
had been produced on the unfortunate man ; and the 
vision disappeared. 

But now the heart of the sinner was shaken as it 
were in its innermost recesses ; he was filled with fear 
and contrition. The image of celestial love as well as 
that of diabolical hatred, which had been palpably re- 
presented to him, had completely softened him. 



136 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 

He could no longer resist. After Gerard had left 
him, he hastened without delay to Father Petrella, 
made his confession, narrated the miracles which had 
converted him from his hypocrisy, and gave him 
permission to make them public for the edification and 
instruction of all. This time the amendment of his 
life was perfect and permanent; the converted man 
never more deviated from the right path, but till his 
death led a truly edifying and exemplary life. In this 
way he blotted out all traces of former scandals. 

As the servant of God converted this sinner by a 
mysterious representation of the blood of Christ, of the 
Infant Jesus, and of the devil, so on another occasion, 
by a similar mysterious bringing forward of a soul from 
hell, he moved another man to contrition. 

This was a man who while making retreat intended 
to approach holy Communion in the state of mortal 
sin. Luckily Gerard met him at the right moment, 
and taking him aside he called him to account. He 
spoke to him in a kindly maimer and said: "My dear 
brother, you are going to communion, and there is still 
a grievous sin on your conscience which you have not 
confessed. Do you not know what a great crime it is 
to commit a sacrilege? Ah, if you do not know, I will 
show you; see the hideousness of a sacrilegious soul!" 
At this moment a lost soul appeared! The sight 
of it was so terrible that the poor sinner trembled in 
every limb, and burst into tears. He hastened back to 
the confessional, made another confession, and amend- 
ed his life. This admonition given by Brother Gerard, 
and the vision of the lost soul was a salutary remem- 
brance during the rest of his life, and helped him to per- 
severe in subsequent temptations to sin. 

A great number of similar conversions were brought 
about by Gerard's wonderfully sustained zeal. They 



AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS. 137 

all bear witness of the love the servant of God had for 
poor sinners. 

There does not exist a more effective proof of the 
zeal of the servant of God in this respect than the fury 
of the evil spirit, who now annoyed the good brother 
unceasingly, and even more than when he was still in 
the world.The evil one augmented his attacks in pro- 
portion as Gerard increased in zeal for the conversion 
of sinners, and succeeded in this kind of work. 

During the night, he was often attacked by a whole 
army of evil spirits ; they presented themselves to him 
under the most frightful appearances ; howled, yelled r 
and threatened, as if they wished to tear him to pieces. 
Once, while the servant of God was working in the 
kitchen, they assumed the appearance of furious dogs r 
and endeavored to push him into the fire. They often 
dragged him through the corridors of the house, struck 
him violently, or seized him by the throat and nearly 
choked him. The Friday nights, during which Gerard 
was accustomed to devote himself to practices of pen- 
ance for the atonement of sin and for the conversion of 
souls, were especially noisy and stormy. 

It is remarkable that the}* often told him in plain 
terms why they annoyed him. One of the evil spirits 
once said to him : "You do not wish to desist from rob- 
ing us of souls — I shall not desist from tormenting 
you till I have put you out of this world." 

In spite of all this, they were not able to inspire him 
with fear for any length of time. What he at that time 
wrote to a distressed soul in regard to the terror which 
is usually inspired by the devil, was for him a leading 
principle. "If the devil," "seeks to fill our soul with 
fear, let us not be disturbed. It is his part to frighten 
us; our part is, not to allow ourselves to be deceived by 
his tricks. It is true, there are times when we feel 
confused and weak. Yet if God is for us, if we have 



138 AUSTERE LIFE AND CHARITY TOWARDS OTHERS, 

recourse to His power, we need not be confused and 
faint-hearted, for there is no doubt that in these strug- 
gles we are sustained by the Almighty's arm. \Ve can 
afford to remain calm, and rely more securely on the 
divine will." 

However furiously the evil spirits might attack him, 
he still despised their want of power. "You can bark," 
he cried out to them, when they surrounded him like 
hungry wolves, "but while Jesus Christ and my dear 
Mother Mary are with me, you cannot bite me." And 
when they attacked him somewhat boldly, he dipped 
his finger into holy water, springled them with it 
or made the sign of the Cross, and the infernal band 
was dispersed as is the morning mist before the rising 
sun. 

"How many possessed persons," says Father Tannoja, 
"did he not deliver by one word! On one occasion, 
when he had been sent for by one of these unfortunate be- 
ings whom the devil refused to leave he put his cincture 
around the waist of the person, and thereby put the 
enemy to flight." 

The servant of God also possessed the faculty of being 
sensible of the presence of the spirit in any place ; no 
matter how the evil one was disguised, Gerard could 
not be deceived. Thus, one Sunday, two young men 
were seen in front of the church ; no one knew who 
they were and whence they had come. Gerard saw 
them and knew them immediately. "What are you 
doing here?" he said to them, "this is not your place; 
in the name of God go back to hell." At the same 
moment the two unknown men disappeared. They 
were evil spirits. AVhat reason they had in boldly 
placing themselves near the church is unknown, yet 
the fact is established, as more than one of the resi- 
dents of the convent were eve-witnesses. 



CHAPTER IX. 

First Public Appeaeance. Religious Profession. 



In June 1751, Father Mazzini :) visited the house of 
Iliceto as Inspector. This visit was of great conse- 
quence to the servant of God. Having but recently 
entered the community as lay-brother, he had not the 
slightest prospect of being permitted to take his vows. 
According to a custom hitherto observed in the Con- 
gregation, the time of probation for lay-brothers had 
been extended to a longer period of time, and there 
were grave reasons for making only occasional except- 
ions to this rule. Gerard was not physically strong, 
yet his health had been exceptionally good during the 
past year. Although his Superiors recommended him 
and his co-brothers spoke highly of him, this was not 
sufficient to prevail upon the holy Founder to admit the 
servant of God to profession sooner than any other mem- 
ber. One of the Consultors of St. Alphonsus, Father 
Mazzini, a very influential adviser, personally observed 

1 )John Mazzini was born at Naples in the year 1705. Hav- 
ing been ordained priest, he distinguished himself by a great 
devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament, which he frequently 
visited, especially in those churches in which the devotion of 
the Forty Hours was celebrated. As St. Alphonsus, who at 
thai ; time was at Naples preparing himself for the priesthood, 
had the same pious habit, they could not fail to become ac- 
quainted with each other at the foot of the altar. This ac- 
quaintance soon led to an intimate friendship, which proved 
afterwards to be of great importance to Mazzini as well as to 
St. Alphonsus. When the latter was called to establish the 
Congregation, and communicated his plan to his friend, Maz- 
zini not only encouraged him, but declared that he was ready 
to follow him as his first companion. He faithfully kept his 
promise, although for the purpose of doing this he was oblig- 
ed to remove many obstacles which were thrown in his way 



140 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

the servant of God and was thus convinced of the gen- 
uine virtue and extraordinary spirit of the young lay- 
brother. Father Mazzini maintained that the Congre- 
gation received in him a heavenly treasure whose in- 
trinsic value could not be doubted ; nothing would be 
more reasonable than to receive him without further 
hesitation. He therefore appealed to the holy Founder 
to make an exception in Gerard's case ; and encourag- 
ed those who made propositions to the Superior to that 
effect. 

St. Alphonsus consented, and in January or February 
of 1752 a letter was received from the Saint at Iliceto, 
permitting brother Gerard to enter upon his second no- 
vitiate preparatory to taking the holy vows. 

"With what delight the servant of God obeyed this 
direction can easily be imagined. In the meantime a 
change had taken place in the house of Iliceto which 
considerably affected the young novice. 

On the 30., or 31., of October 1751, Father Cafaro re- 
signed his office as Superior, to assume new duties as 
rector at Caposele. Father Giovenale substituted him 
for a short time, being succeeded by Father Salvatore 

by his parents, relatives, and even his own director. "No one," 
he himself relates, '-can form an idea of the distress to which 
I was subjected. Only after many entreaties rfhd tears was 
I allowed to join Alphonsus. This was in the year 1733." 
Father Mazzini was thenceforward the constant companion of 
the holy founder. Besides the office of Rector, which was 
several times intrusted to him, he was chosen to be a General 
Consultor. His life was entirely worthy of a friend and fust 
companion of St. Alphonsus. He died in the odor of sanctity, 
December 2. 1792, after he had the happiness of giving his 
brilliant testimony in the process of the beatification of 
St. Alphonsus. In the account of the latter's virtues he also 
speaks of Brother Gerard in the following terms: "This Brother 
died many years ago. He left behind him a high reputation 
for sanctity, and worked a great number of miracles, not only 
during his life but after his death." (Process of beatification 
of St. Alphonsus, summ. Sup. virtut., p. 747.) 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 141 

Gallo for a few weeks. In February 1752, Father Car- 
mine Fiocchi took charge of the house in Iliceto, which 
office he held until October 1755. 

The separation from Father Cafaro, who had been 
a wise director in every respect, was very distressing 
to the servant of God; in fact, he could not resign 
Father Cafaro's direction entirely, but continued his 
former relation to him till his death. Father Cafaro 
on his part did not fail to assist this privileged soul by 
his counsel and instructions. "The Lord," said Father 
Cafaro, when speaking of the servant of God, "has ex- 
alted this brother above all other men; his life has 
been a continuous miracle." 

In the meantime Gerard chose Father Giovenale to 
be his confessor, instead of the much loved Father 
Cafaro. Father Giovenale, born at Lacedogna in 1719, 
entered the Congregation as a young piiest in 1746, 
and had resigned himself unreservedly to the direction 
of Father Cafaro in Iliceto since 1749. The spirit of this 
pious young religious was communicated to him. In or- 
der that he might better be able to direct Gerard, God 
sent him a series of the severest trials ; this experience 
rendered him an excellent director of souls. Hence- 
forth he labored indefatigably on the missions. "Were 
it only granted me," he was heard to say, "to die with 
the weapon in my hand in the battle for the salvation 
of souls, redeemed by the blood of Jesus !" He died 
renowned for his great virtues, in S. Angelo a Cupolo, 
on the 1st of May 1782. 

When brother Gerard commenced his second novi- 
tiate, is is very probable that Father Giovenale was 
his novice-master. Later, when Father Giovenale (in 
April 1752) was removed to the house in Caposele, the 
Rector, Father Fiocchi, seems to have assumed this 
office. 

The servant of God did not suffer any loss by the 



1-12 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

change. Father Carmine Fiocclii, although younger 
than Fathers Giovenale and Cafaro, was nevertheless 
equal to them in virtue and the faculty of guiding souls; 
he was just the man to gain the sympathy and con- 
fidence of the servant of God. The chronicle of the 
Congregation speaks of him in such manner, that we do 
not hesitate to number him among the most important 
disciples of St. Alphonsus. 

Father Fiocclii was born of virtuous parents at Ca- 
jano, June, 1721. He gave proof of genuine piety in 
early childhood, loved intercourse with God, and was 
so devoted to practices of penance that his mother was 
obliged to take certain instruments of penance from 
him so that he could not exceed the proper bounds. 
After he had attained the age for study he went to Nap- 
les for a more advanced course in the sciences. The 
vanity and frivolity of the capital exercised no evil in- 
fluence over him ; he preserved his innocence, his pious 
disposition, and made as much progress in virtue as in 
the sciences. Having entered the clerical seminary at 
Salerno, he was soon ordained sub-deacon. But, he had 
' a higher aim in view, he felt that he was called to the 
religious life and did his utmost to correspond there- 
with. After inquiring into the merits of the different 
religious societies which he might enter, he felt especi- 
ally attracted to the Congregation of the Most Holy 
Redeemer which had been recently established by 
St. Alphonsus. 

He therefore wrote to the holy Founder, made known 
to him his thoughts and desires, asked him to test his 
vocation, and petitioned to be admitted among the mem- 
bers of his Congregation. 

The saint complied with his request, and after some 
time wrote him that "his vocation was from God; that 
the Lord wished to have him entirely for Himself and 
for the good of souls ; and that he should therefore cor- 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 143 

respond to the divine call, since these calls are transient 
graces which may easily be lost." Thereupon Fiocchi 
set out immediately, and hastened to the novitiate at 
Ciorani. 

Fiocchi's parents, who though otherwise pious, were 
very much displeased on account of his departure. In 
consequence they became so exited that they not only 
appealed to the resolute young man with entreaties and 
threats to induce him to give up his resolve, and to re- 
turn to the seminary, but they also called upon the se- 
cular authorities for aid. 

They succeeded in having Fiocchi removed from the 
house of the Kedemptorists, and sent by the authori- 
ties to a convent at Salerno to test his vocation ; but, 
it was not in their power to make him change his reso- 
lution. The blows of the hammer had only hardened 
the steel, and Fiocchi, after having endured many an- 
noyances and vexations, came back to the novitiate the 
more courageous, the more cheerful and, the more de- 
sirous of self-sacrifice. This happened in 1743. 

After zealously and fervently passing through the 
year of probation, he made his profession and complet- 
ed the course of studies. He was then ordained priest, 
and despite his youth was immediately employed in 
the work of the missions, for his maturity of character 
supplied the want of years. He was one of the greatest 
missionaries trained in the school of St. Alphonsus, 
and in this field of labor spent a period of thirty years, 
unceasingly active, burning with zeal, fortunate in re- 
sults ; captivating and savings souls not as much by his 
great eloquence as by the power of his virtues. In his 
twenty-eight year he was appointed Rector of the house 
at Nocera, and after the death of Father Sportelli (1750) 
St. Alphonsus admitted him among the number of his 
General Consultors. 

All virtues, especially poverty, humility and obe- 



144 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

dience, shone forth in Father Fiocchi. We have al- 
ready made mention of his ardent love for the Blessed 
Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. He was a master 
in the art of walking constantly in the presence of God. 
His favorite ejaculatory prayer — just the prayer of a 
missionary — was: "0 Lord! spirit and courage!" 
("Signore! spirito et animo!") 

Father Fiocchi died a holy death, in 1776, while ut- 
tering the sweet name "Mary." Several wonderful in- 
cidents are recorded of prayers that were heard through 
his intercession. Four years after his death, his body 
was found incorrupt. 

Under the guidance of such spiritual directors as Fa- 
ther Giovenale and Father Fiocchi, is was not difficult 
for the servant of God to continue in his second novi- 
tiate what he had begun in the first. Again it was to 
the practice of obedience and penance that the pious 
brother devoted himself most zealously. 

Father Giovenale gives us several examples of the 
simple and humble obedience of the novice. We cite 
them in the words of the priest. "One day," Father 
Giovenale relates, "I called Gerard to serve my 
Mass. I knew well, for it was a notorious fact, that 
after receiving Holy Communion he usually fell into 
an ecstasy. Nevertheless I told him to receive Com- 
munion before Mass and to make his thanksgiving 
during Mass ; then be might return to his work. Re- 
membering what generally happened to him, he could 
not refrain from saying to me ; 'But my Father!' I im- 
mediately interrupted him and said; What do you 
mean by saying, "But my Father?" Do you not wish 
to be obedient ? This was sufficient. He obeyed tremb- 
lingly. However, as soon as the Holy Sacrifice was 
over Gerard hurried away to hide himself on his knees 
and remained there a considerable time without giving 
any signs of life." 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 145 

Of liis docility and disposition to obey, Father Gio- 
venale, in an account written by himself, relates the 
following incident : "Gerard had received special grace 
from God, and in consequence of this divine privilege 
he was perfectly free from temptations against holy 
purity ; so free, that he was wholly unconscious of their 
nature. Not apprehending danger any where, he did 
not find it a necessity to guard his eyes. When I ob- 
served this I called him and asked: "Why have you 
so little regard for modesty as not to cast down your 
eyes?" "Ah, my Father !" he answered in all simpli- 
city, "why should I cast down my eyes ?" In order not 
to deprive him his simplicity, I merely said : "Because 
it is my wish that you should cast down your eyes." 

"I remember being called to him one day, when he 
was ill. Eepairing to his room, I found him prostrated 
with a violent fever. In the capacity of spiritual direc- 
tor, I commanded him to rise and go to work. He arose, 
and the fever left him. I was about to depart for the 
missions, when he came to me and asked: "Father, 
shall I not be ill, hereafter?" 'You are to remain well, 
until my return from the missions,' was my reply. And 
so it happened." 

Father Fiocchi learned, as Father Cafaro had learned 
before, that the obedience of the servant of God was 
sustained by a supernatural knowledge of the thoughts 
of the Superior. On one occasion a letter had to be 
forwarded to Lacedogna. The Superior gave it to 
Gerard and told him to set out immediately. The obedi- 
ent lay-brother had already gone a distance from home, 
when the Rector remembered that he had forgotten to 
mention an important matter in his letter. "Oh, if I 
only had that letter back again!" he thought within 
himself ; and behold, in a short time Gerard entered 
the room, and handed the much desired letter to the 
Superior. Father Fiocchi feigned to be ignorant of 



146 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

the reason why the brother had returned, and therefore 
asked an explanation. Gerard made no reply but 
smiled so significantly as if to say that he had known 
his desire, and it was this knowledge only that induced 
him to return. 

The following gives evidence of the remarkable obe- 
dience of the servant of God. In March 1752, Father 
Fiocchi went to Melii to visit the Bishop of the place, 
Monsignor Basta, who was a great friend of the Con- 
gregation. The holy life of the lay-brother Majella 
naturally became the topic of their conversation. For 
a long time, the Bishop had desired to become ac- 
quainted with him. This desire was now increased 
still more, and induced him to ask the Hector to permit 
the brother to stay with him for some time. The rea- 
sons which he gave for making this request and the 
consideration which his dignity and friendship deserv- 
ed, moved Father Fiocchi to yield to the desire of the 
Bishop. 

Greatly pleased with his success, the Bishop wished 
to send a messenger to Iliceto immediately, to tell Ger- 
ard of the arrangement that had been made to bring 
him to Melfi. "Monsignor," said Father Fiocchi, "it 
is not necessary to send for him : it is sufficient for me 
to think that I desire him to come, and he will be here 
in a short time. I will show you how far his obedi- 
ence goes, and in what manner he is favored by God." 
After he had spoken thus, he reflected for a few mo- 
ments, and gave Gerard the command to repair to 
Melii. 

At the same moment Gerard who was at Iliceto went 
to Father Minister who replaced the Rector during his 
absence, and asked him for permission to go to Melfi ; 
"for" said he, "it is there the Superior wishes to see 
me." Permission was granted, and Gerard set out ac- 
cordingly arriving at the episcopal palace at Melfi 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 147 

while the bishop was speaking to Father Fiocchi. 
"What brings yon here ?" said he to the brother, with 
some bitterness when he entered to kiss his hand. 
"Obedience to your Reverence's call," modestly answer- 
ed Gerard. "What? Obedience?" continued Father 
Fiocchi, "I called you here neither by letter nor by 
messenger." "Surely you did, Reverend Father," he 
answered. "In Monsignor's presence you gave me the 
express command that I should come, as he desired to 
see me. Alas, Monsignor !" he said, turning towards 
the bishop, "who am I that you should wish to speak 
to me? I am only a worm of the earth, a miserable 
being who needs the fulness of God's mercy." 

Gerard's coming and his humble words made quite 
an impression upon the bishop who found the guest 
such as public opinion had described him, — a miracle 
of obedience, of simplicity and of humility. The Pre- 
late was now still more anxious to have Gerard for 
some time in his own house, and to keep him under 
observation. The soul of this young man seemed to him 
worthy of study, and he hoped also to derive many 
useful lessons from his supernatural wisdom, for the 
benefit- of his own soul as well as for the souls of those 
intrusted to his care. 

He therefore asked that Gerard might be allowed to 
remain with him for a few days, and his request was 
granted. 

The prelate, whose hospitality Gerard enjoyed, was 
of a cautious and quiet disposition. For although he 
presumed that by his first impression of Gerard he had 
received excellent testimony of the brother's virtue, he 
wished to examine into it more critically, that he might 
the better appreciate it. 

He began to test the spirit of the holy lay-brother 
in various ways, and most eagerly traced the deeper 
motives which animated him in order to see whether 



148 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

or not Gerard's interior dispositions corresponded with 
their external splendor. This test was decided in favor 
of the servant of God. 

The prelate was now most lavish in his attention to 
his guest, and sought to turn to account the super- 
natural science and prudence of this highly favored 
religious. He had. daily conferences with him, and 
directed them in such a manner that Gerard was oblig- 
ed to express his judgment in regard to matters con- 
cerning the welfare of the diocese, and to communi- 
cate his views in reference thereto. 

Persons who lived with the bishop were equally anx- 
ious to avail themselves of the gifts of the servant of 
God. Gerard who had come to Melfi, through obedi- 
ence remained there in obedience, and God's blessing 
ever attended him. No one ever tired of listening to 
him or consulting him. A priest with whom he often 
came in contact in the bishop's residence says : "He 
treated religious subjects and especially the Mystery 
of the Redemption with such facility, that he seemed 
to be another Augustine or Jerome. 

The life led by Gerard, as well as his supernatural 
wisdom, astonished and edihed all. He lived in the pa- 
lace of the bishop as he lived in his cell at Iliceto. He 
engaged in labor, prayer, and different practices of 
piety ; was continually collected in God, and appeared 
to live among men only for the purpose of enkindling 
in them the tire of divine love. 

An incident is on record to verify this. One day a 
certain Nicholas Martini, who was cook at the bishop's 
house, met him. The servant of God was just then en- 
gaged in his accustomed spiritual delights, inflamed 
like a seraph. In this condition he walked up to Mar- 
tini, put his hand on his breast, and said in an impres- 
sive tone of voice : "Let us love God ! oh, let us love 
God." 



FIEST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 149 

Gerard also became known outside the prelate's re- 
sidence ; lie was especially esteemed in the convent at 
Kipacandida and Atella which belonged to the diocese 
of Melfi, and with which, as we shall learn later on, 
the servant of God was at that time brought into closer 
relation. 

The three weeks which Gerard was permitted to spend 
at Melfi passed too quickly for his friends. They en- 
deavored to detain him a little longer. But, the ser- 
vant of God would not be detained a moment longer 
than his Superior had permitted. 

On the evening of the last day which he was permit- 
ted to spend in their midst, he put the bridle on his 
horse and prepared to return to Iliceto. It was late, 
and a heavy fog had risen ; besides, a heavy rainfall 
threatened. 

The heavy fog had made the road almost invisible. 
Soon he lost his way, and found himself in the thicket 
which lined the banks of the Ofanto, and through which 
it was dangerous to travel, on account of the innumer- 
able ravines caused by many heavy rains. Gerard's 
situation was critical, on account of the darkness, and 
of the rain that was now pouring down in torrents, he 
could no longer see anything ; hence he had to trust en- 
tirely to the instinct of his mount. 

Suddenly, he noticed a human being directly be- 
fore him, apparently determined to hinder his advance. 
It was a demon who wished to make use ofthis occasion 
to destroy his enemy whose life was now in the greatest 
danger. The evil spirit was, however, obliged to help 
the man of faith out of his difficult position, and lead 
him to his destination. 

At a late hour at night Gerard arrived safe at Lace- 
dogna ; he knocked at the door of Constantine Capucci, 
a friend of the Congregation, in order to avail himself 
of his hospitality for the rest of the night. 



150 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION 

Let us hear from his lips, or rather from the lips of 
Gerard, how it was possible that he arrived without ac- 
cident, and escaped the hostile designs of the evil spirit. 

"It was about four o'clock in the afternoon," (ten 
o'clock according to our reckoning) says Capucci, in a 
report which has been handed down to us, "I was sit- 
ting with my family around the hearth, and we had al- 
ready thought, of retiring, when I heard a knock at the 
door. To have some one calling at the house at so late 
an hour and in such weather startled me. I asked who 
was knocking. 'Brother Gerard,' was the answer. The 
voice was familiar to me. I quickly opened the door 
and saw the brother before me, thoroughly wet, and 
bespattered with mud from head to foot. 
m " 'O my dear Brother Gerard,' I cried out, and having 
embraced him I added 'What brings you here at such 
an hour, and in such weather?'" 

"'The will of God be done at all times, my dear Con- 
stantine,' he answered; 'I have returned from Melfi; 
but in the darkness, fog and rain, I lost my way. I 
found myself on the banks of the Ofanto so close to the 
ravines that I would have lost my life, if God had not 
come to my assistance. While I was in the greatest 
danger on the brink of a precipice, somebody stepped 
up to me and said : "Here it is that I wish to secure you; 
now I am your master; you did not obey your Super- 
ior, and God will not forgive you this!" I was at first 
a little startled, but I had scarcely recommended myself 
to the Lord when I perceived that the speaker Avas a 
demon. "Miserable fiend," I said to him, "I command 
you in the name of the Blessed Trinity to take the 
bridle of my horse and to lead me straight to Lace- 
dogna without doing me any harm." Thus led by an 
evil spirit, I was saved from the dangei that threaten- 
ed me. "Without this guide I should not be alive, and 
my body would be buried in the ravines of the Ofanto. 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 151 

After we had readied the church of the Holy Trinity, 
the strange guide said to me in evident ill-humor: 'You 
are in Lacedogna', and instantly vanished." 

With the same simplicity and frankness with which 
Gerard related this adventure to his friend Capucci, he 
also related it, upon his return home, to Fathers Fiocchi 
and Giovenale, from whom he thought he ought not 
conceal anything of this nature. 

During the time of his final probation, he considered 
obedience and the practice of severe penance a sacred 
duty. 

For a long time the grotto of Blessed Felix had serv- 
ed him as a secluded place of prayer. This was the 
order of his Superiors, and he obeyed. But now, he 
thought the time had arrived when he might repeat 
his former inflictions and petition that the prohibition 
be rescinded. He therefore presented this request to 
his Superior, and to his great joy it was granted. Thus 
the grotto again became the theatre of unheard - of 
mortifications, which perhaps differed from the former 
only by the fact that they were more severe. 

The place of Longarelli was now taken by a certain 
Francis Teta, a tailor by trade, and a native of the city 
of Nusco ; at this time he was leading a retired life, 
and was working in the convent. Gerard could promise 
himself much from the service of this man who was 
greatly indebted to him. 

The reader will allow us to explain in a few words 
how he became aquainted with Teta. One day Gerard, 
entrusted with a commission from his Superior, found 
himself on the road which leads to San Agata di Pug- 
lie, a small town not far from Iliceto, when he came to 
a place where two roads cross each other. He thought 
he heard an interior voice saying : "Stop here ; a great 
sinner will come to you soon." He stopped, and wait- 
ed. Presently, he saw a man approach whose coun- 



152 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

tenance expressed the deep melancholy that had taken 
possession of his soul ; his features bore the stamp of 
guilt as well as of remorse. "This is my man," said 
Gerard within himself, when he perceived the condition 
of the stranger. 

The man, however, hastened his steps as soon as he 
noticed the la}- -brother, and endeavored to pass by him 
rapidly. Still more convinced that the right person 
was before him, Gerard accosted him with this friendly 
question : "Where are you going, my friend ?" The 
mild tone of the question made no impression on the 
dark-visaged man. "That is none of your business ; let 
me alone," he answered abruptly. Gerard, however, 
did not allow himself to be disconcerted. "I beg you," 
he continued, "to have the goodness to tell me who you 
are, and where you are going. Perhaps I may be of 
some use to you." "I am going my own way ; you go 
your own; do not troiible me," the man replied, angii. 
ly, and was about to rush past him. But Gerard held 
him fast. "I know," said he, "that you are in despair, 
and on the point of giving up your soul to the devil. 
You are doing a great wrong, and God has sent me to 
this place just on your account! Have confidence in 
Him!" 

These powerful but kind words effected a salutary 
change in the disposition of the unhappy sinner. His 
heart was softened, and opened to God's grace. With 
tears in his eyes, he revealed to Gerard the sad and 
troubled condition of his soul, and desired that the ser- 
vant of God should form his judgment about these 
matters, and counsel him. The saintly brother encour- 
aged the penitent sinner, and pointed out the means 
which he should employ. "Go," he said, "to Iliceto; 
try to find Father Fiocchi, make a good confession, and 
all your troubles will cease." The sinner obeyed, went 
to Iliceto, made his confession, and showed such fer- 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 153 

vor that his petition to obtain work in the convent was 
granted, and he was allowed to remain in the house for 
some time. He became the model of a pious penitent, 
a man of prayer and mortification. After four years he 
went to Naples, where he devoted himself to the care 
of the sick. 

This converted sinner was no other than Francis Teta, 
whom Gerard had chosen for his task-master. After 
what had been narrated, we shall understand that Teta 
was obliged to acquiesce in Gerard's wishes and com- 
mands, however difficult these might appear. 

Teta also exerted himself to render to his holy 
friend the service which he asked of him as well as 
possible : he scourged him to blood, crowned him with 
the favorite crown of thorns, and fastened him to the 
cross just as Longarelli had formerly done. It some- 
times happened, that Teta's courage failed him, and in 
spite of the joy manifested by Gerard amid his tortures, 
he stopped and did not wish to continue, being over- 
come by compassion. Then Gerard who found delight 
where others could see no cause for it, began to entreat 
and implore him. If entreaties were of no avail, he 
had recourse to what he thought was his right as far 
as Teta was concerned, and said : "Oh, if you do not 
wish to do what I have asked of you, — then I com- 
mand you to do it ! Strike me, yes, strike me, by obe- 
dience!" 

In order not to lose the merit acquired during his 
second novitiate, he added penance to this life of obe- 
dience and modest retirement. He felt the necessity of 
this seclusion the more, since he had become known to 
the world. His time would have been greatly trespas- 
sed upon by externs, had he not absolutely withdrawn 
himself. His greatest desire was to be forgotten ; and 
he rejoiced that the Superior assisted him to attain this 
end by depriving him of intercourse with seculars. 



154 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

The Prioress of the Carmelite nuns in Kipacandida 
had asked Gerard to present her regards to a certain 
hermit. "In order to comply with your request" he 
■wrote to her, April 16., 1752, "there was no other means 
for me to adopt, than to give your letter to brother Ca- 
jetan. At the present time, only the language of signs 
is open to me ; I have been dumb for a considerable time, 
because this is God's holy will. My Superiors have for- 
bidden me to speak to any one outside the Community, 
and in this prohibition have excepted only the case 
when I am out of the house. Do pray to our dear Lord 
that He may destroy the erroneous opinion which peop- 
le have of me, that they may give up the desire to see 
me and to converse with me." 

The long-desired month of July, 1752, had come at 
length, when he was to consecrate himself as a holo- 
caust to his Lord, by making the vows. On the feast 
of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin he began the 
customary retreat of fifteen days, and on the lGth. of July, 
the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer, and of our Lady 
of Mount Carmel, lie made his religious profession. 

Unfortunately, the details of this celebration have 
not been preserved. The only special item recorded 
is, that the saintly brother offered his sacrifice with 
great joy, and that the entire Community at Iliceto par- 
ticipated in his happiness. \Ve can, however, easily 
infer from the already well known dispositions of Ger- 
ard, what emotions of gladness, love and gratitude must 
have filled his heart during this most sublime act. 
Moreover there are in existence two letters, written by 
the servant of God shortly after his profession, when 
yet full of the impressions that had been made upon 
him, in which he clearly expresses his sentiments in re- 
gard to the great priviledge that had been conferred 
upon him. The first of these letters is addressed to 
St. Alphonsus, Superior General of the Congregation. 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 155 

It is a true mirror of the soul of the good brother, and 
reads as follows : 

"Jesus, Mary! 

"The grace of divine love be always in the soul of 
your Paternity, and may the Immaculate Virgin Mary 
preserve it for you. Amen ! 

"Most Kev. Father : Prostrate at the feet of your 
Paternity, I thank you most heartily for the goodness 
and love you have bestowed on me, without any merit 
on my own part, in receiving me into the Congregation, 
and in allowing me to be numbered among your sons. 
Blessed be for all eternity the goodness of God, Who 
has permitted me to participate in so many mercies 
and favors, among them being the inestimable privilege 
of making my profession, and of consecrating myself 
entirely to Him, on the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer. 

God ! who was I ? and who am I ? that I should dare 
to consecrate myself to Thee ! 

"I should like to speak of the greatness and goodness 
of God ! but it is useless under the present circumstan- 
ces, and you would call me a foolish man. Most Rev. 
Father, I beg you, for the love of Jesus Christ and of 
the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, to give me your bless- 
ing, and to place me at the feet of His Divine Majesty. 

1 kiss your hand. I remain your Paternity's unworthy 
son, Geraid Majella, of the Congregation of the Most 
Holy Redeemer." 

The second letter, dated July 26., 1752, is addressed 
to Father John Mazzini, one of the General Consultors. 
"We quote it : 

"Jesus, Mary! 

"May the grace of the Holy Ghost fill the soul of 
your Reverence ; may it always remain in it, and may 
Mary Immaculate preserve it. Amen ! 

"My dear Father : How much I love you in Jesus 
Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a love which 



156 FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 

is pure and founded in God, I cannot tell you; God 
alone knows it. Most cordially do I thank you for the 
goodness and love with which you exerted yourself in 
my behalf, in requesting our much beloved Father to 
allow me to take the holy vows. I made my religious 
profession on the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer, 
and I hope that the Divine Majesty will not forsake 
me, but will always sustain me in doing His holy will. 
"My dear Father: For the love of Jesus and the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, I recommend my soul to you! 
Do not forget to commend me frequently to God, just 
as I shall never, never, never forget your Reverence. 

"I kiss your consecrated hand. Et perpetuo per- 
manemus in corde Jesu et beatae Mariae. (Let us al- 
ways remain in the holy hearts of Jesus and Mary,) 
I remain, your most unworthy servant and brother, 
Gerard Majella, of the Congregation of the Most Holy 
Redeemer." 

As was to be expected, the perfect sacrifice of him- 
self by the holy vows intensified his love of God. In 
his note book we find the resolution frequently to re- 
new his vows, in the following words : "At every me- 
mento for the dead (at holy mass) I will declare to the 
Lord my desire for martyrdom, and fervently renew 
my four vows." 

Another passage reads thus : — "On September 21., 
1752, I understood the following truths better : To suf- 
fer, and not to suffer for God, is an infinite torment. — 
To suffer everything, and to suffer for God, is nothing!" 
Moreover, in imitation of St. Teresa, he made the 
vow, at this time, "always to do that which he knew to 
be most perfect," — a vow at which the weakness of 
human nature recoils, and which is the expression of a 
heart that lives entirely for God and for His interests. 
As this sublime and mpst difficult vow was in perfect 
harmony with the life and endeavors of the servant of 



FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. 157 

God, it was, as liis biographer remarks, "well adapted 
to raise him to a very high degree of perfection. Hence- 
forth, nothing could be seen in him except what was 
heavenly, — a heart entirely open to every influence of 
the Holy Spirit, a religious of incomparable purity, and 
an armament of God, which possessed all the qualities 
requisite for the great things to be accomplished in the 
souls of men through his humble labors." 



CHAPTEK X. 

The Gatherer Of Alms. 



According to the plan of divine Providence, the 
beauty of Gerard's virtue was to be displayed not only 
in the seclusion of the convent, but he was to become in 
no slight degree, as far as the rank of a simple lay- 
brother permitted, an apostle, and a saver of souls 
among the peojile of his native country. 

From his childhood, he had cherished an inclination 
for apostolic labors. How he displayed his zeal in 
the beginning of his conventual life, has just been told. 
After his profession, there were many opportunities of 
laboring for the salvation of souls, which had been 
denied him previous to his taking the vows. 

A very favorable opportunity to evince his zeal was 
afforded him by the custom, followed by the Neapoli- 
tan Fathers, of taking a lay-brother with them on their 
missionary tour. 

He had to discharge the duties of steward, to render 
the Fathers every kind of domestic service, and also to 
attend to the business outside of the house. As our saint- 
ly Brother Gerard united in himself these qualities in 
an eminent degree, it was quite natural that the Fathers 
chose him to accompany them on the missions. Ger- 
ard on his part did not neglect so grand an opportunity 
to display his zeal for souls. 

Without trespassing the limits of his office, he labored 
more than many a preacher, by the example of his virtues 
as well as by his pious conversation with all classes 
of persons. "He was," says a witness of his activity, "a 
most assiduous co-laborer of the priests, especially in 
his love for instructing the poor people. He was very 



THE GATHERElt OF ALMS. 159 

attentive to those who had strayed from the path of 
duty, he communicated with them privately, and re- 
claimed them to virtue. His peculiarly pleasant and 
engaging manners ensured him perfect success ; the Fa- 
thers used to say ; "The example and labors of Brother 
Gerard do more good than a thousand missions and 
sermons !" 

A word from his mouth, a glance from his eye, could 
scarcely be resisted by the most hardened sinner ; so 
that when the confessors did not succeed in infusing 
into any unhappy man the proper dispositions ; if his 
hardness of heart set at defiance all their exhortations 
and entreaties, they endeavored to persuade him to 
have a short interview with the servant of God, Gerard, 
or at least to call and see him. If the sinner agreed to 
do this, it usually happened that he returned after a 
short time, but in a quite different frame of mind : sof- 
tened, converted, determined, reformed. 

What learned and zealous priests could not accom- 
plish, he brought about by a few words, the simplicity 
of which was truly marvellous. He generally spoke to 
poor sinners calmly and gently ; but when he deemed 
it necessary, he knew how to be severe, and addressed 
them with an earnestness which made them tremble. 

In this way, he effected the most remarkable conver- 
sions. "This holy brother was a visible instrument in 
God's hands," says a missionary ; "we could do noth- 
ing but gaze at him in amazement, and endeavor to 
imitate him." 

Not only on the missions, but at other times, the 
Fathers frequently desired the servant of God to ac- 
company them, namely, when they had to leave home 
for the purpose of giving novenas, triduos and similar 
exercises. Every one regarded the success of his labors 
insured if he could have this highly favored brother at 
his side. Such anticipations were never disappointed. 



160 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

Although blessed with good results in his apostolic 
labors during the missions and on similar occasions, 
Gerard's influence was still more productive in other 
undertakings. A more extensive field of labor was 
open to him when the poverty of his community com- 
pelled him to beg for alms. "Let us fortify oursel- 
ves with courage," St. Alphonsus wrote to Father 
Xavier Rossi, when the house of Iliceto was establish- 
ed, "for our life here will be a life of povert}*." The 
prophecy was fulfilled. The disadvantages under which 
the work in Iliceto was begun multiplied from day to 
day. It was useless to depend upon the other houses 
of the Order for assistance, as they themselves often 
suffered want. 

Thus the Superiors had to submit to the unpleasant 
necessity of availing themselves of the help of the be- 
nefactors of the Instittite ; for this purpose they sent 
out some of the brothers to different parts of the coun- 
try, to gather alms according to the recommandations 
and instructions given by the bishops and pastors. 

Among all the brothers, none seemed to be better fit- 
ted for this difficult and delicate business than the ser- 
vant of God. He displayed charming modesty, tender 
blending of affability, simplicity and earnestness, which 
distinguishes the mendicant lay-brother from the com- 
mon beggar ; that piety, purity of morals and freedom 
of rudiness which are as effective as a sermon where- 
ever the mendicant goes ; finally, prudence which is of 
absolute necessity in his intercourse with the world. 
In the meantime the reputation of his sanctity had al- 
ready become generally known; every one esteemed 
him highly ; he was regarded more as a messenger from 
heaven than as an ordinary mortal. Hence the hope that 
he would not only attain, in a most satisfactory man- 
ner, the main object, — that of gathering alms, but that 
he would draw upon his work that blessing and unct- 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 161 

ion which such labor once received through St. Francis 
of Assisi and St. Felix a Cantalicio. 

Truly, a representative of the holy Capuchins seemed 
to have been resuscitated when Gerard, in obedience 
to his Superior, assumed the office of an alms-gatherer. 

On such occasions, Gerard manifested a true aposto- 
lic spirit, and great love for his fellowmen. In the 
course of three years, he passed through hundreds of 
places, hamlets, villages and cities leaving everywhere 
a rich treasure of heavenly graces in return for the alms 
which he gathered. A detailed account of the long 
journeys made by our saintly alms-gatherer would be 
highly interesting, instructive and edifying. We regret, 
however, that but little of this wonderful and efficacious 
work is on record ; nevertheless, from the little Ave do 
know, we marvel at his untiring zeal. 

Before Ave describe the life Avhich Gerard led, and 
the labors which he performed in different places to 
which his office and the circumstances connected there- 
Avith led him, Ave shall endeavor to give a picture of the 
manner of life observed by the holy brother during his 
journey ings. 

The art of arts of the religious, AA r hom necessity com- 
pels frequently to hold intercourse Avith the world, is 
no other than this : in spite of bodily absence from 
one's quiet cell, to preserve its spirit, not to alloAV it 
to evaporate in the bustle and turmoil of the world. 

The saintly brother possessed this art in an exalted 
degree. His life outside the convent conformed exact- 
ly with that Avithin its sacred precincts, — ever the 
same strict, simple, poor and amiable brother. Ea 7 !- 
dently, he was a man of prayer, possessed of divine 
gifts and graces. None but a saint could thus go from 
village to village in poor, wretched garments, Avalking 
by the side of his horse, and begging alms Avith incom- 
parable modesty and simplicity. He was always recol- 



162 THE GATHEKEIi OF ALMS. 

lectecl, yet friendly, saluting those whom he met, and 
exchanging a few kind words with eveiyone; every child 
that hurried to kiss his hand received his blessing. 

On his j ourneys he practised the same severe morti- 
fications as when at home. From the time he made 
the vow always to aim at perfection, he had become 
still more exact in this matter, and the fatigues of 
travel, the hardships of begging, and the many different 
privations connected therewith, he thought no reason 
for less austerity. It is true, he endeavored as care- 
fully as possible to hide his fasting, his vigils and other 
mortifications from the eyes of men, but the benefactors 
in whose Louses he had to take shelter during his 
travels, and who were already informed of his great 
sanctity, observed his very step, so as to learn the 
minutest details of Gerard's mode of life. 

We are therefore enabled to speak of his practices 
of piety and mortification on these journeys, and also 
of those things which doubtless he strove most care- 
fully to conceal from others. 

He constantly, thwarted his sense of taste, render- 
ing his food unpalatable by mixing it with bitter herbs. 
Though he did not always pass the night in vigil, he 
refused to use the bed which had been prepared for 
him, and slept on the bare floor. Not to let any one 
know of this, he usually disarranged the bed in the 
morning as if he had slept in it. Sometimes, when he 
was not able to stay at the houses of the benefactors 
and friends of the Congregation, he took up his quar- 
ters for the night in the open air, for he did not wish 
to dwell in the houses of strangers. 

In a preceding paragraph we have made use of the 
phrase, "When one saw him going from village to vil- 
lage by the side of his horse." The fact is, he usually 
did this ; he Avalked by the side of the animal, as he 
did not wish to ride. Kiding, he considered too great 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 1G3 

a convenience, and as not becoming him. Sometimes 
the Superiors enjoined upon him the duty of riding. 
Then, of course, he did so. If perchance he met any 
one heavily laden, who was travelling the same road, 
his compassionate heart induced him to. offer the use of 
the horse. The man had to place his burden on the 
horse, and could not refuse Gerard the pleasure of ac- 
cepting this kind service, at least for a short distance. 
If any one of the brothers accompanied him, he was 
obliged to ride, while Gerard walked by his side. 

A distinctive characteristic of this traveller was his 
unobtrusive appearance. He came in contact with 
women very often, but never deviated in the least from 
that delicate modesty which was peculiar to him. He 
had framed a rule for himself that as often as duty 
would bring him in contact with persons of the oppo- 
site sex, or that he would meet any of them, he should 
say a Hail Mary in honor of the purity of the Blessed 
Virgin ; he was always faithful in observing this rule. 
He avoided speaking to any woman alone, if possible ; 
when speaking to several, though he was able to con- 
verse with them without embarrassment, he was so 
reserved, that no one could be scandalized. Less on 
his own account than to sustain the virtue of others, 
and to give an encouraging example, he usually cast 
his eyes down, and when most actively engaged with 
the world, was a model of innocence and purity. 

Wherever he went, his appearance produced a moral 
effect. After he became better known, he was often 
received with great enthusiasm by entire communities. 
All were zealous in giving him alms ; and Gerard said, 
"the women of his native place to which he had come, 
would have deprived themselves of their ear-rings, and 
the men of their silver buttons, had he not checked 
their fervor." In return, all zealously received spirit- 
ual alms from him. 



164 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

His spirit of prayer was particularly edifying. Every 
leisure moment was spent in presence of the Blessed 
Sacrament; not unfrequently, in ecstasy. It was evid- 
ent to all who met him that his mind was bent on things 
supernatural, while he was making his way through the 
crowd. 

Frequently it happened that Gerard entirely forgot 
where he was going, moving onward as if in ecstasy. 
Thus, one day (no doubt an exceptional day in this res- 
pect), he rode during several hours, quite absorbed in 
thought, without remarking that he was going to Foggia, 
though he had to go to Melfi. "When I noticed this," 
he afterwards related, "I recommended everything to 
the suffering Redeemer." 

As soon as the business of begging was finished, be- 
sides making generous returns by way of offering spi- 
ritual alms, he became an apostle. 

The renown which he enjoyed, his undeniable sancti- 
ty, as well as his attractive manners, were the cause 
that wherever he went the people had recourse to him, 
and overwhelmed him with petitions. Some wished him 
to pray for them ; others desired his advice ; others 
sought consolation and instruction. It often happened 
that after his day's work they came to him in great 
numbers. No one had to regret importuning Gerard ; 
the servant of God was never happier than when he 
could communicate to others the gifts which God had 
bestoAved upon him. Every one went his way rejoy- 
cing, satisfied, astonished, and imbued with a true love 
for God. The subjects upon which Gerard spoke were 
what a true service of God demanded, fidelity in the 
discharge of the duties of their state of life, the fre- 
quent reception of the sacraments, the love due to Je- 
sus Christ, devotion to the divine Mother, the heinous- 
ness of sin and like subjects appertaining to a Christian 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 165 

life. All were astonished at the attractive and capti- 
vating manner in which he was able to discuss these 
subjects. 

The lay-brother so mastered the art of consoling that 
one Avho experienced his power speaks of it in the follow- 
ing terms: "Gerard, with a heavenly countenance, con- 
soled all sufferers." Those who are very much depress- 
ed in spirit, those who were in the deepest melancholy, 
he drew forth from their dangerous conditions, encourag- 
ed them by pointing out the example of patience shown 
by Jesus Christ, an'd succeeded in persuading them to 
resolve to bear their trials with humility, and resignation 
to the mostholy will of God. Differences, enmities, 
and various other scandals, Gerard could never tolerate. 
When informed that such an evil existed, he did all he 
could to restore peace, and many families owed to him 
the return of happiness, which had been apparently lost 
forever. 

One day, while he was going through San Menna, he 
noticed that his horse had lost its shoes. He called 
on a blacksmith of the place to have the animal shod. 
The man, who was covetous and without conscience, 
thought that he might exact something for his own 
benefit from the simple brother, and accordingly hav- 
ing shod the horse, asked an exorbitant remuneration 
for his work. Gerard could not agree to this unjust 
demand without violating poverty and also encouraging 
the man's avarice. In holy anger he ordered his horse to 
throw off the shoes that had been put on under these 
sinful circumstances, and the horse actually shook 
them off, taking a leap and giving a most vigorous 
kick. The avaricious man stood speechless for some 
moments; only after Gerard had mounted his horse 
and had gone some distance did the blacksmith's speech 
seem to return; seeing the wrong which he had 
done, he cried out to the servant of God : "Gerard, 



166 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

Gerard! Oh wait! I beg of you to wait!" But Ger- 
ard proceeded on his journey without looking back. 

Once, having returned from his journeys and arriv- 
ing at the Bovino Bridge, the servant of God heard 
loud cries. Turning towards the place whence the 
sounds proceeded, he saw near the bridge a wagon 
which had sunk so deeply in the sand, that the horses 
could not drag it out ; there was great danger of the 
wagon and the horses being lost. The driver began to 
curse like a demon, and endeavored to urge his horses 
forward. 

The blasphemies which Gerard had to hear pained 
him in the extreme. "Do stop cursing, you miserable 
wretch!" Gerard cried out to him with a loud voice. 
"I will stop, if you save my wagon and horses, for they 
will be lost," answered the driver. "Very well," said 
the servant of God, turning towards the horses: "I 
command you, in the name of the Blessed Trinity to 
move on." These words he accompanied with the 
sign of the Cross. At the same moment the wagon 
seemed to become lighter, and the animals drew it 
through the sand without an effort. 

The driver was astonished. It was a favorable op- 
portunity for Gerard, and he made use of it. He repri- 
manded the man, exhorted him to give up the bad ha- 
bit of cursing, and concluded with the words: "Hence- 
forth refrain from blaspheming, and if ever an accident 
should befall you like this one c »f to-day, throw this 
handkerchief that I give you on your wagon, and God 
will come to your assistance." 

Having presented the handkerchief, Gerard proceed- 
ed on his way. The driver subsecpiently found an oc- 
casion to heed the counsel of the servant of God, and 
to learn by experience the truth of his prediction. For 
later, happening to find himself in a similar predica- 
ment, he thought within himself : "Let us see whether 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 167 

the lay-brother is really a man of God;" and threw the 
handkerchief which Gerard had presented to him and 
he always carried with him, on the wagon. Immediately, 
his team gained new strength and the wagon that be- 
fore was immovable was dragged without any difficulty. 

Not only casually, and as it were by accident, did 
the saintly and zealous mendicant carry on war with 
sin. It is safe to say that he actually gave chase to 
poor sinners, and that he left nothing untried to con- 
vert them. But it was always the charm of his char- 
ity that attracted the hearts of men more than any- 
thing else; possibly, his wonderful penetration of men's 
consciences may have contributed largely to his success. 

In order to make a breach in the hard hearts of sin- 
ners, he often resorted to the oddest methods of attack. 
One day, when a few miles from Iliceto, he met a young 
adventurer, who steadily fixed his eyes upon him, and 
surveyed him from head to foot. Gerard's attire had 
very little to recommend it ; an old patched cloak was 
hanging from his shoulders ; under it could be seen a 
short cassock just as old; and on his head, a most 
wretched hat. No wonder that the young man was 
somewhat startled, and did not know how to classify 
the servant of God. Truly, Gerard looked like a gypsy. 

To meet a man, who he thought must be in league with 
the devil, was not welcome to the adventurer, who had 
already fallen into the most grievous irregularities. 
"Can I go with you?" he said, while moving towards 
Gerard. "I think," he continued, "that you are a ne- 
cromancer." This strange language must have puzz- 
led the brother; and yet informed from on high, he 
knew the interior state of his questioner. In short, the 
words spoken by the young man were grist to Gerard's 
mill ; and he thought of a method af attaching him to 
himself for a short time, in order to bring him back to 
the right path. He therefore gave an evasive answer, 



168 THE GATHEREE OF ALMS. 

which, without being affirmative, cold however not be 
regarded as a negative answer. 

The young man, who was only greedy for money, did 
not allow himself to be deterred by this answer of the 
saintly brother, and thinking it to be in the affirmative, 
uttered in a timid manner, now began to offer his servi- 
ces. "If, perhaps," he said, "you are in search of a 
treasure, let me assist you. "Will you do so?" "Of course," 
said Gerard, "but are you a man of courage and common 
sense?" "Certainly," declared the adventurer ; you do 
not know who I am ; listen to the story of what I have 
already accomplished." The stranger then began to 
relate all his shameful acts, with that boasting and de- 
tail usually indulged in by those who tell of their great 
deeds. Among other things he said that he had not 
received the sacraments for six years. 

After finishing the anything but edifying history, 
Gerard said, very encouragingly: "Very well, then, the 
treasure I am seeking shall be yours; we shall soon 
have it." This gave the poor sinner still more courage; 
he continued to relate new crimes, while the servant of 
God was quietly planning a method to entangle him in 
the nets of grace. 

In the meantime both arrived at a dense forest. Ger- 
ard was the first to enter. His companion followed, 
believing that now the digging for the treasure would 
begin. Having reached the heart of the woods, Gerard 
said : "We have arrived at the spot." He then spread 
his cloak on the ground, and bade the young man ap- 
proach. The latter began to tremble in every limb, 
for in his superstitution he thought that he would 
presently see a demon. He followed the directions 
that had been given. Gerard then told him to kneel, 
and clasp his hands as if in prayer. He himself then 
turned his eyes towards heaven, with a look which ex- 
pressed most earnest solicitation, and said to the ad- 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 169 

venturer in a solemn tone of voice : "I promised that 
I would permit you to find a treasure ; I am keeping 
my word. But the treasure is not of this world ; it is 
the treasure of treasures, the treasure of paradise. If 
you wish to see it, here it is !" At these words he drew 
forth a crucifix. The young man looked at it dumb- 
founded; he had not expected this. "Yes, just look at 
it," continued Gerard, "this is the treasure which you 
lost many years ago, which you have exchanged for 
the most worthless things." In most glowing colors he 
described to the poor sinner the wretched condition of 
his soid, represented to him the enormity of his infam- 
ous deeds, and earnestly besought him to return to 
God. 

The holy brother had spoken in this manner for half 
an hour, when the man stood before him, weeping and 
lamenting ; he was no longer the same person he had 
been an hour before ; the young man who had asked 
so many sinful things of Gerard, and had so insolently 
boasted of his crimes. The adventurer sincerely and 
heartily repented of his sins. When the servant of 
God remarked this change in him, and that his words 
had penetrated his heart, he lovingly embraced him, 
and persuaded him to come with him to the convent. 
The penitent did not hesitate, and humbly and rerjent- 
ingly followed the brother. Here he found the treasure 
which he had lost. A good confession reconciled him 
with God, and the peace which he afterwards enjoyed 
caused him ever after to be a grateful admirer of the 
servant of God, and enabled him to keep the promises 
which he had made. 

The journeys of the saintly gatherer of alms were re- 
plete with such conversions. We shall find occasion 
to mention some of them elsewhere. A large number 
are lost ; perhaps the greater number are known only 
to God. 



170 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

As the zealous servant of God profited by his travels 
to deliver souls from the morass of sin and vice, he was 
no less anxious to win such as might become followers 
of a perfect life. With special fondness and tact he knew 
how to prevail upon young girls to bid farewell to the 
world and to enter the religious state. His power of 
persuasion was one of his principal gifts ; and just as 
he became known in a short time as a man who under- 
stood how to lead sinners to the confessional, so he 
very soon gained the reputation of one who had made 
it his special business to win spouses for Jesus Christ. 

The Carmelite nuns of Eipacandida, the Benedictine 
nuns of Atella, and the nuns of Saragnano increased in 
number by the zeal of the servant of God. The con- 
vent at Foggia especially was indebted to him for a 
number of distinguished subjects. Besides his own 
niece, he sent there two daughters of Constantine Ca- 
pucchi, as also twelve other girls who were relatives of 
this family. 

Indeed, God regarded this work of gaining souls for 
a more perfect life with so much complacency that He 
manifested it several times by evident miracles. Thus 
it is related that several girls avIio were going to the 
convent were wholly protected against the rain during 
a fearful storm, having spread Gerard's cloak over 
them. 

Still more wonderful is what happened to the daugh- 
ters of Constantine Capucchi, when they left their 
father's house to enter the convent at Foggia. With 
their father and Gerard they came to a swift-running 
river that had overflowed its banks. This circumstance 
would have prevented their further progress if Gerard's 
confidence and faith had not come to their aid. But 
this holy brother, whom no difficulty could deter, did 
not hesitate to command the agitated waters to stand, 
as Josue had done to the waves of the River Jordan. 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 171 

And behold ! the waters were separated, and permitted 
the pious travellers to cross without hindrance. How- 
ever strange this event may appear, we have the testi- 
mony of the father of the two girls, a sober-minded as 
well as learned man who often in his old age spoke of 
this occurrence as a great miracle. 

The journeys of the servant of God were an almost 
uninterrupted chain of miracles. We will mention a 
few. One day Gerard was in the house of a worthy 
Canon, Calvini, in Venosa. A poor mother who heard 
of this and who had a little son whose limbs were quite 
crooked, took the sick child in her arms and carried 
him to the house of the Canon. There she asked to 
see the servant of God, to whom she showed her child, 
with the earnest petition to have pity on him and on 
herself, and to pray to God for her. "It is nothing," 
said Gerard with his usual simplicity, "the limbs are 
sound." At these words he touched the feet of the 
child, and immediately they were restored and made 
straight. 

It once happened that blessed Gerard having knock- 
ed at a very poor woman's door to ask for some bread, 
received the pathetic reply that she had not a morsel 
for herself. In fact the poor woman had but little 
flour, which had just been brought from the mill. The 
servant of God acted as if he were astonished at the 
excuse which the woman had made. "What!" he said, 
"you have nothing! Is not your cupboard full of 
bread?" "It is empty; there is not even the smallest 
piece of bread in it," the woman answered. That he 
might see the truth of her assertion, she led him to the 
cupboard and asked him to open it. Gerard did so, 
and behold! a large quantity of the most excellent 
bread lay before them. A cry of terror at witnessing 
such a miracle was all that she could utter. It is cer- 
tain that the happy woman joyfully and reverently fur. 



172 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

nished tlie mendicant brother with some of the bread 
which had been given to her in so wonderful a manner. 

A similar miracle wrought by the servant of God 
during his journeyings is related by the lay-brother 
Antonio de Cosimo, who, long after Gerard's time, visit- 
ed the places where the latter had been collecting alms. 
His account runs as follows : 

"While I was attending to some business in the pro- 
vince of Basilicata, I came to a house in Ferrentina in- 
habited by an old blind woman, named Lucretia, whom 
I addressed as follows : 'I am a lay-brother of the mis- 
sionaries.' Then the blind woman cried out : 'Ah it is 
Brother Gerard! Oh, my dear Brother Gerard! let me 
kiss your hand !' But when I informed her that Bro- 
ther Gerard had died many years before, she burst in- 
to tears and said: 'He is dead, yes, he is dead! Good 
God, he was a great saint!' 

"She then narrated to me that Brother Gerard had 
once come to her when there had been a bad harvest, and 
asked her for an alms. She had to excuse herself, and 
to admit that she had but three measures of flour which 
would scarcely suffice for the space of a week to sup- 
port her family and her fieldlaborers. The new harvest 
could not be expected for a long time, and she begged 
him to excuse her if she did not offer him anything. 
'Oh, no matter,' said Gerard : but allow me to tell you, 
give more generous alms to the Blessed Virgin this 
year than usual, and you will see that what is left the 
Madonna will increase in such a manner that it will go far 
enough to support your family till the next harvest.' 'If 
this be the case,' answered Lucretia, 'take as much flour 
as you please.' The remainder of the flour, the good 
woman related with tears and great emotion really last- 
ed as Gerard had foretold, till the next harvest. Though 
this seemed incredible, it was an undeniable fact, and 
she regarded Gerard as a saint. 'Oh, certainly!' she 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 173 

concluded, 'he was a great saint, else he could not have 
worked that miracle.' As a remembrance, Lucretia 
gave me a considerable amount of corn, and from that 
day forward I began to invoke and venerate Gerard 
daily as my patron." 

In this way the servant of God labored with great 
success, under the humble exterior of alms -gatherer, 
for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. His 
travels were those of an apostle, who by the example 
of his brilliant virtues, as well as by the power of his 
words and of his miracles, revives everywhere the true 
faith, and makes most unexpected conquests of souls. 

"In every place, where he gathered alms," says an 
eye-witness, "he earned the reputation of being a man 
of God, an angel of purity, and a saint rich in miracles, 
in charity towards his neighbor. This reputation and 
high esteem continued after his death." 

In consequence of his travels, the servant of God 
found an occasion for another kind of labor of which 
we may speak here; we mean his epistolary instructions. 

Whoever made the acquaintance of the saintly 
brother experienced the power of his words, his in- 
structions, his consolation. He had also tasted for his 
own benefit the spirit of wisdom which animated Ger- 
ard, and also conceived a great desire to enjoy this 
happiness oftener, and was not unfrequently obliged 
to continue in communication with so extraordinary 
a judge of his heart. So it happened that Gerard was 
asked by many for advice by letter, was requested to 
administer consolation and instruction, and as he could 
not satisfy them by a personal interview, he was oblig- 
ed to pen his thoughts, in order not to abandon a work 
that had been begun so auspiciously, and not to for- 
sake his "dear penitents" — to use Father Tannoja's 
expression — on the road which he had assigned them. 
These productions of his pen are the expression of 



174 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

the soul of this simple, seraphic brother. The ortho- 
graphy, style and connection of thoughts betray the 
artless, uneducated lay-brother ; while the spirit that 
pervades them is not unworthy of a master of the spirit- 
ual life. They are hidden pearls. 

The greater number of the letters which were written 
by the servant of God have unfortunately been lost. 
Most of them were addressed to pious virgins who had 
consecrated themselves to God. "We shall afterwards 
make special mention of his directions of these relig- 
ious. Many of these letters have been preserved, and 
in the course of this biography we shall quote what is 
most edifying in them. Some few letters were written 
to persons living in the world, but only fragments of 
these are in existence. At the end of this chapter we 
intend to reproduce these few remnants of Gerard's 
labors for the benefit of the reader. His apostolate 
was as rare as it was rich in blessings. May his letters 
serve as a memorial of his divinely-given wisdom and 
of his unbounded charity towards his neighbor! We 
pass over only one letter, which, though it breathes 
apostolic freedom and true charity in a high degree, 
yet, is rather obscure on account of its many references 
to unknown events. 

We begin with the short but beautiful letter of the 
saintly brother, written to a nobleman who was almost 
in despair. It is a tender exhortation to prayer, and 
to confidence in the providence of God. 

"I have received your esteemed letter. If, my dear 
sir, you are only faithful to God, He will sustain you. 
God knows how painful your trials have been. May 
the holy Ghost furnish you with the knowledge of our 
great obligation to suffer for Him Who suffered so much 
for us ! O my brother in Jesus Christ, have patience : 
God has permitted all this for your own good; He 
wishes you to save your soul, and to enter into your- 



THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 175 

self. Only one thing is necessary ; bear every trial with 
resignation to the divine will, to attain your eternal sal- 
vation. Be courageous ; you will overcome your temp- 
tations. Hope with a lively faith and you will recover 
every thing from Almighty God." 

He gave similarly consoling advice to a person who 
did not secure a desired situation, and who for this 
reason gave way to great dejection. 

"Try to have patience if you do not receive what you 
desire immediately. Perhaps our dear Lord prefers 
to humble you. God often forces people to enter into 
themselves by means of suffering and bitterness, that 
they may understand what a dreadful thing it is to 
offend Him. In such a case the best thing we can do 
is to weep over our sins without intermission and to 
pray incessantly to the Lord to prolong our days that 
we may have time sufficient to weep and suffer for Him. 
Why do you wish to despair? Your sufferings are 
nothing in comparison with those which you deserve 
for your sins. Would it not be much worse if you were 
now in hell? My son, be careful; the evil spirit is 
cunning, and if you do not show yourself more faithful 
to God, He will soon find means to plunge you into 
misery. Moreover, be of good cheer ; have confidence 
in the Lord; He will give you the strength to bear 
every thing. I recently recommended you to the duke, 
yet he is unfortunately not in a position to gratify your 
wish. Leave all to God ; He will come to your assist- 
ance in proportion as you are faithful to Him." 

Finally, we must speak of a letter which Gerard ad- 
dressed after the manner of a wise director of souls to 
a priest of Caposele, Don Cajetan Santorelli. The lat- 
ter — a member of Dr. Santorelli's family, who after- 
wards became so devoted to the servant of God — had 
recourse to the saintly lay -brother in consequence of 
very great troubles of soul, having been convinced that 



176 THE GATHERER OF ALMS. 

he was gifted from on high. Hereupon Gerard ans- 
wered him by letter. This was the last which he wrote 
at Iliceto, namely, on the eve of his departure for Noc- 
era whither the holy Founder had called him m order 
that he might defend himself against a dreadful cal- 
umny of which mention will be made later on. 
The letter reads as follows : 
" Tgsu s INIary ! 

"May the grace of the Holy Ghost always dwell in 
the soul of your Reverence, and may the Blessed ^ irgm 
preserve it! Amen. 

"I wiite you in a great haste, my dear, most esteem- 
ed Don Cajetan. With the greatest consolation I re- 
ceived your kind letter, and I thank you for the special 
charity which you showed to that servant of God. God 
will reward you for this ; I know He will. 

-But now you must listen to me with great attention. 
What I shall say to vou, I say in the name of the Most 
Blessed Trinity, and in the name of my dear Mother 
Mary; see to it that this may be the last letter that I 
shall ever write to you on this subject, for I shall never 
more speak as I intend to do now. 

"As to the scruples in respect to your past life, 1 
know that your Reverence have examined your con- 
science with all diligence more than once; therefore, I 
say to you, think no more about them. Your fears and 
doubts are nothing else than a stratagem of the evil 
spirit, who is anxious to destroy the sweet peace that 
reigns in your heart. Do not any longer notice his 
suggestions, and seek to preserve your interior peace, 
so that you ma- advance on the road that leads to 
perfection. 

"In regard to the anxiety which is occasioned by the 
administration of the Sacrament of Penance, I must 
say in all truth that even this is only a temptation. The 
evil spirit wishes only to make you give up the office 






THE GATHEItEE OF ALMS. 177 

to which you have been destined from all eternity, fur 
your own benefit and the greater benefit of souls. Take 
care not to yield to this temptation : I say this to yon 
in the name of God. If your Kevereuce would give up 
the administration of the Sacrament of Penance, your 
spiritual life would suffer great injury and God would 
have to diminish the reward which He is ready to give 
you in eternity. To resign this office would be noth- 
ing else than not to do God's will, for I repeat, it is the 
will of God that you work with great zeal in the vine- 
yard of our Lord. The faults that you may commit 
in this work should not discourage you ; it is sufficient 
that you have the earnest will never to offend God ; 
the rest should not trouble you. As for the knowledge 
which you are expected to have, God has given to you 
what is quite sufficient for the discharge of this office. 

"The visit which you intend to pay me in company 
with Don Nicholas (it is evident that Dr. Santorelli is 
meant) appears to me not to be feasible at the present 
time, for, as my Superior says, I must set out for Pa- 
gani. I thank you for the kindness you have shown to 
me, though I do not deserve it. "Pray for me I beg 
of you, for I need prayer very much. Praised be for- 
ever the goodness of God, which sustains me in all my 
trials ! Give to the members of your whole house my 
kindest regards. 

"While I embrace you 'in corde Jesu' (in the heart 
of Jesus), and humbly kiss your hand, as also that of 
Don Nicholas, I remain, your Reverence's unworthy and 
wretched servant and brother in Christ, Gerard Majella, 
of the Congregation of the Most Holv Redeemer." 



CHAPTER XI. 
Labors At Muro And Corato. 



The first excursion of the servant of God was to his 
native place, Muro. In all probability this journey 
took place a few weeks after his profession, during the 
autumn of 1752. 

Only three years had elapsed since Gerard's depar- 
ture from his native place; nevertheless within this 
short space of time the respect which the people of 
Muro had entertained towards their townsman while 
he lived so piously among them, had already develop- 
ed into the veneration that is usually paid a great saint. 
The fame of his virtues and of his hitherto-wrought 
miracles had penetrated as far as their town and had 
rilled all with astonishment. 

When it became known that Gerard was to visit them, 
his coming was looked for with anxious expectation, 
and when he actually made his appearence he was re- 
ceived as a messenger from God. The Franciscan Fa- 
thers whom he visited after his arrival received him 
with unmistakable veneration and awe. 

Among those who rejoiced most were the members of 
his family. We refer to his sisters, his mother Bendicta 
having died a few months previous, (April 10., 1752). 
Though they did not have the happiness of extending 
him their hospitality during his stay in his native place, 
it is by no means to be inferred that it was a matter of 
indifference to Gerard ; it was his desire to practice 
the virtue of obedience and self-denial that prompted 
him to forego this pleasure. 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 179 

"We wish to remark that in this self-denial which is 
becoming to a religious Gerard did not intend that the 
souls of his relatives should suffer any disadvantage as 
a result; for the affectionate manner in which he at that 
time interested himself in behalf of a young girl, his 
niece, who thought of becoming a religious, serves as a 
convincing proof that the servant of God was as much 
concerned about the welfare of his own family, as he 
was about the welfare of others. He not only encourag- 
ed her faithfully to carry out the plan which he had 
proposed, but he was also solicitous in regard to her 
reception into the convent of the Most Hol} r Redeemer 
at Foggia. After she had received permission to enter 
he accompanied her to the convent. 

The joy which he experienced at the happiness of 
his niece was so great that on the road from Muro to 
Foggia he scarcely spoke of anything else than of the 
duty of aiming at perfection, and that thus she should 
become a great saint. In his emotion he made use of 
strong expressions : thus he said to her when they had 
arrived at the banks of the Ofanto, while pointing to 
the river: "Do you intend to be a saint? See! if I 
knew you were not resolved to do so, I would imme- 
diately throw you into the water." 

Scarcely had Gerard begun to gather alms at Muro 
than he was enabled to exercise his apostolic activity 
and to reveal the gifts which he possessed. The peo- 
ple followed him in crowds. Children and adults alike 
hastened to meet him, and to kiss his hand. Men con- 
sidered it an honor to accompany him. 

"When he was at Muro," said one of his townsmen, 
"very many citizens went to him : some to find re- 
lief in their troubles ; others to obtain spiritual conso- 
solation. 

Even during the first days of his sojourn his pro- 
phecy to one of his townsmen on an occasion when 



180 LABOES AT MUEO AND COEATO. 

they teased and ridiculed him as a crazy man : "You 
despise me now : a time will come when you will kiss 
my hand," was fulfilled. 

Not only laymen pressed the saintly brother with 
petitions and questions; priests and clerics also ap- 
pealed to him. "Man}" ecclesiastics," says Father Tan- 
noja, "paid the greatest respect to Gerard, and gave 
him the strongest proof of their confidence. Some of 
the ablest confessors of the secular as well as of the 
regular clergy called upon him for the purpose of ob- 
taining from his supernatural wisdom an explanation 
of difficult matters connected with the direction of souls. 
Gerard solved their doubts as if he were a master in 
theology, and like a teacher well-versed in the spiritual 
life he discussed the most intricate questions of asceti- 
cism and morality." 

One of those who heard him speak in this manner 
could not refrain from crying out in astonishment : "Fa- 
ther, Lord of heaven and earth, glory be to Thee, that 
Thou hast concealed these things from the wise and 
hast revealed them to the lowly. So it is Father, so, 
it has pleased Thee." Among those who most admired 
the servant of God in this respect was the director of 
the seminary, Canon Joseph Pianese. The wisdom of 
the uneducated lay-brother who spoke like a Doctor of 
the Church, made the deepest impression upon him. 
Desiring to afford his colleagues and the seminarians 
the same useful and salutary impression, he one day 
asked the servant of God who had come to the semi- 
nary, to address the young people. He propo- 
sed that he should explain the words that open the 
Gospel of St. John : "In principio erat verbum" (In 
the beginning was the Word, etc.), which is one of the 
most difficult passages to explain. Gerard obeyed the 
command of the priest. The words propounded refer- 
ed to his favorite mvsterv which had so often stirred 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 181 

his heart and put him into ecstasy. He loved to speak 
of it. He therefore began to speak of the generation 
of the Word, and he did this with such loftiness and 
such exactness of expression that the audience was car- 
ried away with admiration. The bishop of the city, 
Monsignor Vitus Mujo, a very learned and discreet 
prelate, also cherished the greatest affection for the 
servant of God. His general bearing, his profound hu- 
mility, his great love for God, and his piety charmed 
the bishop when he first met him. Not satisfied with 
this interview, he often sent for the brother, and as 
formerly the bishop of Melfi had done, conferred with 
him on different important matters. As he himself tes- 
tified later, the manner of speaking, so worthy of a 
teacher, which Gerard employed when he had to speak 
on theological subjects, filled him with astonishment, 
while his humility and simplicity of heart inspired him 
with love. "As often as he came to me," said the Mon- 
signor to one of our Fathers, "he consoled me by his 
heavenly countenance." 

At Muro, his winning manners and extraordinary 
wisdom increased day by day the respect with which he 
was regarded; yet that which contributed mostly to this 
reputation was the manifest miracles by which God wish- 
ed to glorify His servant before the world. One miracle 
especially, attracted general attention. 

The son of "his host, Piccolo the watchmaker, had 
generously offered to collect in different houses, pro- 
visions that were destined for alms to be given to Bro- 
ther Gerard. For this purpose he hurried through the 
town with such excessive zeal, that a serious accident 
befell him. The poor youth stumbled in the street and 
fell to the ground, his head striking a stone with so much 
violence that he became unconscious. He was lifted 
up and carried to the nearest house, while people gath- 
ered around in large numbers. The father of the un- 



182 LABORS AT MUBO AND CORATO. 

fortunate man came at tlie same time accompanied by 
the servant of God. In the exitement Piccolo could 
only hear : "He is dead ; he is dead !" In his anxiety 
to know to whom these words refered, Piccolo asked the 
name of the one who had met Avith the accident. He 
was told that it was his son. What dreadful news for 
the poor man ! The father had not the courage to look 
at his dead child ; in his distress he turned to Gerard 
and asked him to enter the house. The servant of God 
entered, and found the young man lying on the floor, 
apparently dead. He calmly went up to him, made 
the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the boy, and 
said; "It is nothing, my son, it is nothing." Immediate- 
ly the youth opened his eyes and awoke as if out of a 
swoon, and was as well as he had been before. 

Of the gifts of penetrating the hearts of man and of 
prophecy, Gerard also gave many convincing proofs in 
his native place. This increased his reputation among 
all those upon whom Gerard bestowed his favors. 

Worthy of mention in this respect was that which 
happened to a certain notary, Pietro Angelo de Ruber- 
tis. This man had committed a crime many years pre- 
viously, known to none but God and himself. Rubertis 
had in his vineyard a cherry-tree, the excellent fruits 
of which often proved a temptation to others. He was 
therefore accustomed to watch this tree, especially 
during the seasou when the fruit was ripe. While 
watching one night, he captured a thief, whom he how- 
ever dismissed after giving him a reprimand, and threa- 
tening to punish him severely if he were again found 
stealing the fruit. Unfortunately, however, the man 
did not heed the warning, but came again. Though 
Pietro was very angry he did not cany out his threat; 
but when the bold man attempted to steal a third time, 
the notary became so enraged that he earned his threat 
into execution. He murdered the culprit. Rubertis 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 183 

buried the dead body in his vineyard with his own 
hands, and having resolved to conceal his deed, he 
spoke to nobody about what had happened, not even to 
his own wife. Unfortunately he also wished to lie to God, 
and persevered in concealing the terrible act, even at 
confession. It is true, the disappearance of the mur- 
dered man created some excitement at first, and accord- 
ingly a search was begun. Yet, as no light could be 
thrown on the subject, and no traces of the missing 
man could be found, no mention was any longer made 
about the matter ; and at the time in which we find 
Gerard at Muro, it had been entirely forgotten. 

The servant of God, however, had scarcely seen Ru- 
bertis, when he perceived the wound that was rankling 
in the heart of the unfortunate man ; and though but 
little acquainted with him, he said, as soon as he could 
speak to him alone : "My friend, your conscience is in 
a bad condition. Your confessions are worthless, for 
you have not yet confessed the murder which you com- 
mitted near the cherry-tree in your vineyard, where you 
buried the murdered man." It can be easily conceived 
that this revelation must have filled the notary with 
great terror. After his first excitement had abated, he 
communicated the mystery which had been hitherto so 
carefully concealed, to his wife. Probably she told it 
to those persons through whom it came down to us. 
"Yes," Rubertis asserted on this occasion, "Gerard 
must be a great saint, for he revealed something to me, 
which was known only to God and myself." 

It need hardly be mentioned that Bubertis now con- 
fessed his sin, and thus regained that peace of mind of 
which he had been so long deprived. 

One day Gerard visited the house of a citizen named 
Carmine Petrone. His son aged three years soon drew 
Gerard's attention entirely upon himself. For some 
minutes the servant of God rested his eyes upon the 



184 LABORS AT MUBO AND CORATO. 

child at play, and tlien said to his father : "Little An- 
thony will soon be taken from you ; he ^vill die with a 
musical instrument in his hand." Not long after the 
boy was taken sick ; his illness became worse, and one 
day apparently already in his agony, he asked for the 
guitar which was near him. While he was touching 
the strings with his little fingers, after the manner of 
children, he yielded up his soul to the holy angels. 

On another occasion the servant of God was going 
to pay a visit to the Poor Clares in company with 
Pianese, the director of the seminary, when he met a 
man who -was uttering the most terrible blasphemies 
against the Blessed Trinity. Gerard and his companion 
were terrified at such language : "These blasphemous 
words will not remain unpunished ; you will see." 
Three days after the wretched blasphemer was shot in 
the street, and died without having time to call upon 
God to have mercy on his soul. 

We have just mentioned the convent of the Poor 
Clares, and we must not leave Muro with the servant 
of God without saying a few words concerning his 
labors in that convent. The fact is, this convent was 
like other parts of the city, the scene of miracles per- 
formed by the saintly brother. 

The renown of the first marvelous deeds which were 
accomplished in the city had thrown the good nuns of 
St. Clare into pious excitement. All wished to see the 
holy brother, to converse with him, and to draw profit 
from his peculiar gifts ; and if we still remember that 
it was in their chapel that Gerard had received the 
Sacrament of Confirmation many years before, we shall 
not think it amiss to hear that they were of opinion 
that they possessed a certain right to be visited by the 
servant of God. Gerard, however, always refused to 
accept their invitations. 

The nuns, who ascribed this refusal to the modesty 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 185 

and humility of the servant of God then applied to the 
bishop, in order that he might comply with their wish. 
Monsignor Mujo was not at all opposed to such a re- 
quest ; on the contrary, he encouraged it, since he hop- 
ed for the best results to be derived from an interview 
of the saintly religious with the nuns. "A chat (chiac- 
chierata) with this brother," he wrote to them, "will do 
more for you than a long series of Lenten sermons." 

Gerard could not refuse obedience to the prelate, and 
therefore paid the long wished-for visit, and often re- 
peated it, at which he generally addressed the nuns in 
a short discourse, "which," to use Father Tannoja's 
words, "put the nuns into an eden-like mood." (Bes- 
tarono imparadisate le monache.) 

The saints are at all times practical, and a glance 
from them quickly discovers certain sore spots which 
it is necessary to heal. So it was with Gerard, espec- 
ially when he spoke of the obstacles to sanctification 
in virgins who live in solitude ; of the dangers which 
are too often overlooked; of the means of removing these 
obstacles and of resisting these temptations. On the 
one hand, he vividly portrayed the injury that is caus- 
ed by attachment to creatures, and by the evil habit of 
frequenting the parlor ; and on the other hand, the ad- 
vantages of a total detachment from all earthly things, 
and of a perfect love for solitude. "In the silence of 
the cell," said he, among other things, "God speaks to 
the faithful religious. Here, where she can pour out 
her heart to Jesus Christ her Lord, and to her sweet 
Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, she finds true con- 
solation." 

The words of the servant of God spoken in the parlor, 
soon produced a wonderful effect in the cells of the 
convent, as well as in the hearts of the religious them- 
selves. Many abuses, which the confessors had tried 
in vain to remove, and which had done a great deal of 



186 LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 

harm, entirely ceased after the humble brother warned 
the nuns against them. 

Among the religious in the convent there lived a nun 
who cared very little about the spirit of poverty. With 
that incomprehensible pettiness which always takes pos- 
session of those who, though called to what is great, 
neglect to strive to attain it, she had conceived a great 
attachment for an ex veto, — a small gold heart. She 
would by no means give it up, always carried it with 
her, and was as fond of it as a miser is of his money. 
Several confessors had tried in vain to persuade her to 
surrender it, but she obstinately turned a deaf ear to 
every entreaty. "When Gerard came, one single con- 
versation with her was sufficient to break asunder the 
chains which bound her soul. The nun entered into 
herself, gave up what she had loved so inordinately, 
and became an exemplary and exact observer of the 
Rules. 

In the convent of the poor Clares, God also confirm- 
ed the exhortations of the brother by several extraor- 
dinary proofs of his higher mission. One of these was 
Gerard's cure of the Superior of the convent, Maria 
Josepha Salines. This nun had suffered from intermit- 
tent fevor for a long time ; she therefore asked the bro- 
ther to recommend her to God. Gerard promised to do 
so, and after he had prayed for the sick person, he sent 
a little of the dust taken from the grave of St. Teresa. 
Immediately after she had swallowed it the fever abat- 
ed. This precious dust the servant of God had received 
from the Carmelites at Bipacandida, and generally gave 
it to the sick to conceal his own power of performing 
miracles. "We shall see how he used some of this dust 
when he was on his death-bed. 

Another cure effected in this convent by Gerard was 
not so well known, but was far more extraordinary. It 
concerned a nun who was suffering from an evil that 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 187 

affected her soul. She had, either through negligence 
or for some other culpable reason, concealed a sin in 
confession for a long time, though she had made a 
general confession three times. The wound was deep 
and old; therefore very dangerous. The servant of God, 
however, perceived it, and was filled with compassion 
for her. He had an interview with the nun, and made 
known without circumlocution Avhat he knew of her in- 
terior. Moved to repentance, she acknowledged her 
fault, and hastened to cleanse her soul in the crucible 
of confession. 

In this manner Gerard worked miracles, and saved 
souls during his stay at Muro. The inhabitants of the 
city were filled with respect and veneration for him. 
They found in him far more than they had expected, 
and regarded his words as coming directly from God. 

The profound humility and unaffected modesty of 
the servant of God exercised the greatest influence 
over all, but while receiving the clearest proofs of the 
high regard in which he was held, he did not wish to ap- 
pear to be any other than a poor beggar, and a lay- 
brother of the Congregation of the Most Holy Re- 
deemer. He was constantly annoyed with invitations, 
and therefore had the best opportunities to dine at the 
tables of the first families ; but he declined all, and 
prefered to mingle with beggars : he often stood at the 
door of the seminary, where the poor usually received 
a piece of bread and some broth as an alms. 

Soon after his sojourn in Muro. the servant of God 
encountered great dangers in his travels, of which a 
contemporary, Canon Serio, gives us a detailed account. 
He relates as follows: "It was in the year 1751 or 
1752, ^ — it is impossible to specify the exact time, I 
was in Carbonara with my father, who was exercising 

V Certainly, in 1752, as Father Fiocchi mentions in the 
following report. 



188 LABORS AT MURO AND C0EATO. 

the high office of governor. He was an intimate friend 
of the physician, Don Antonio Dominico. This phy- 
sician, a man of excellent qualities, was accustomed 
to offer hospitality to all the monks and missionaries 
who happened to pass through Carbonara, and he en- 
tertained the highest regard for them. 

"One day, about the hour of dinner, he invited me to 
dine with him, in order that I might bear Gerard, who 
was staying at his house, company. 

"He thought I would be pleased to make the aquaint- 
ance of the servant of God, and that the latter would 
also be greatly pleased to meet with an ecclesiastic. 

"I joyfully accepted the invitation, and we immedia- 
tely started, and went to the house together. 

"On entering the room, Don Antonio cried out in a 
joyous tone; 'Be of good cheer, Brother Gerard! it is 
rainy and stormy, and it is dangerous for you to pro- 
ceed on your journey. I have brought you a compan- 
ion, so that you may not be alone. Dinner will be 
served shortly.' 

"I thank you for your kind attention, my dear Don 
Antonio,' said Gerard, 'but I must hasten, for I must 
be at Melfi this evening. Obedience requires it.' 'But 
my dear Gerard,' replied Don Antonio, 'one should un- 
derstand how to interpret the command of a Superior. 
If the Superior who gave you the command were now 
here, he certainly would not allow you to go away in 
this kind of weather. After dinner we shall see how 
the sky looks, and the matter will be arranged.' Gerard 
concluded by saying : 'I hope that the weather will be 
finer; and I shall then set out on my journey.' 

"At this point I also engaged in the conversation, 
and asked the brother a few particulars in regard to 
Father Giovenale and Father Cafaro ; I had gone to 
confession to the latter when at the seminary in 1750. 
Gerard's answers proved very satisfactory to me. Soon 



LABOKS AT MUEO AND CORATO. 189 

afterwards we sat down to table, and dined with holy 
cheerfulness. Don Antonio's efforts as well as mine 
Avere meanwhile directed to prolong the dinner as far 
as possible, so as to prevent the brother from depart- 
ing. And he on his part gave us some hope that we 
might detain him for the night. But in due time he 
interrupted the conversation, and firmly declared that 
he was going away. 'That cannot be,' said Don An- 
tonio, 'it would be highly imprudent on my part to 
allow you to travel when it is raining in torrents. You 
will have to cross the Lausento, the Ofanto, and the 
bridge of the Oglio. You will lose your way, and then 
— the hour is already too far advanced !' I also tried 
to persuade Gerard to remain. 

"But the latter arose and said : 'For the love of our 
Lord, take pity on me, and do not urge me any more. 
Father Fiocchi expects me this evening at the episcopal 
palace at Melfi. As for the Lausento, I do not fear : 
my horse is good, strong, and fearless in crossing 
streams. As regards the Ofanto, if the rain should 
continue and I find the river too swollen, I shall follow 
the road and cross the bridge; should the weather 
prove favorable, I shall choose the shortest way. Be 
kind enough not to detain me. I tell you the weather 
will not change until I shall have left the house !' 

"He then went out and saddled his horse. His last 
words seemed spoken in so positive a manner that we 
said to each other : "Let us see whether the weather 
will really change before he departs. Let him go ; but 
let us provide him with an escort as far as the ford of 
the river.' Meanwhile Gerard was ready to set out. 
'My dear brother,' said Don Antonio, 'if you wish to 
go, set out without delay, for it is getting late, and you 
will arrive two or three hours after sunset. I will order 
my servant to accompany you till you have crossed 
the Lausento. But I am quite sure that you will re- 



190 LABORS AT MUEO AND COKATO. 

turn. The rain is falling in torrents, and the whole 
country is flooded. Gerard mounted his horse and 
•while we bade him farewell rode away. 

"Two men had received orders to accompany him as 
far as the Ofanto. As soon as Gerard left the house, 
the rain ceased and the sun began to shine, so that Don 
Antonio looked at me and said : 'Don Matteo, what 
think y oil ? is not this brother a saint ? You see that 
his assertion was very correct; he has departed, and 
the weather is fair. Is not the obedience of this bro- 
ther worthy of admiration !' I was of the same opinion, 
and then left the house, inwardly praising God. 

"The following day I learned that the two attendants 
who had been sent with Gerard had crossed the Lau- 
sento without hindrance upon his invitation. But when 
the}' had come to the Ofanto they saw the waves rise 
and the storm was rapidly washing great uprooted 
trees down the stream. They therefore advised the ser- 
vant of God not to cross the river ; it would be to ex- 
pose himself to certain death. He however answered 
that his horse could swim very well. Then making the 
sign of the cross, and calling to his horse he said : 'In 
the name of the Blessed Trinity, let us go ahead!' 
Whereupon he rode into the water. The noble animal 
pushed forward, but soon sank in the waves, and a mo- 
ment later nothing was above water, except its head. 
The liver moved so impetuously, that the brother see- 
med to be lost. The attendants were horrified, and cried 
out : 'O holy Virgin, help him!' In the meantime the 
horse swam on. It had nearly reached the middle of 
the river when an immense tree, tossed by the waves, 
was swiftly bearing down upon both horse and rider. 
The two men seeing the danger, thought all was lost. 
They shouted : 'A tree, a tree, Brother Gerard !' The 
latter, however, very calmly made the sign of the Cross, 
and the tree which was approaching at a fearful rate 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 191 

stopped short, than moved aside, leaving the rider and 
his horse untouched. Gerard reached the other side 
of the river soon after, whence he called out to our 
frightened people : "Now you may go home. May God 
protect you; fear no longer." Gerard knew how won- 
derfully he had been saved on this occasion, but he as- 
cribed his deliverance to obedience which prompted 
him to undertake the dangerous journey. One day 
when speaking to the Bishop of Lacedogna, Monsignor 
Amato, of the power of obedience, he narrated this oc- 
currence in order to prove its wonderful effects. Some 
months later during the last week of Lent, 175#, we 
find Gerard in Carato, a city in the province of Bari. 
Although he may have been known there as a collector 
of alms it was not alms-gathering that induced him to 
come here at present. 

Some priests and laymen of this city had made a re- 
treat at Iliceto, and had become acquainted with the 
servant of God on this occasion. They were so capti- 
vated with his sanctity and his wonderful life that they 
spoke of him at home with the greatest enthusiasm, 
and awakened in all their friends and acquaintances 
the desire of seeing Gerard and of speaking to him. 
Thus it happened that they applied to Father Fiocchi 
to permit the servant of God to come to Corato for a 
short time. The reasons which they advanced in sup- 
port of their request were by no means to be despised ; 
yet Father Fiocchi was not inclined to grant the request 
which he had been obliged to deny so many others. 
"Was not the task imposed on the brother wholly con- 
trary to his proper sphere of life? 

After duly considering the arguments for and against 
the petition, Father Fiocchi finally resolved to give 
Gerard permission to spend a few days at Corato. He 
did not regret it. Gerard also met all expectations in 



192 LABORS AT MURO AND COKATO. 

Corato. Even his journey there was rich in nlessings, 
and distinguished by an evident miracle. 

On the road which leads from Andria to Corato he 
noticed a poor farmer who was looking at his field most 
dejectedly and uttering loud complaints. Gerard stop- 
ped, and asked him the reason of his sorrow. "Oh, 
my Father!" said the farmer/' even though you knew 
it you could not help me." "What my good friend," 
said Gerard, "cannot Almighty God?" "No doiibt, but 
just look at my barren field : the mice have ruined it 
entirely ! Oh my Father, my family will die of hunger." 
Moved with compassion, Gerard turned towards the 
field, and made the sign of the Cross over it. The far- 
mer who had been surveying his field from morning till 
night, perceived a sudden change. The mice were fast 
disappearing ; they were lying in heaps either dead or 
dying at the farthermost end of the field. Filled with 
excessive joy, he cast himself at the feet of Gerard and 
thanked him most cordially. "My good friend," said 
the brother, "you must not give thank to me, but to 
God." 

He then mounted his horse and rode away in order 
to escape further demonstrations of gratitude. The as- 
tonished farmer now began to walk through his field. 
What he had seen on the outskirts of the field, he saw 
everywhere. The mice lying around in great numbers, 
dead or just dying. Overwhelmed with joy he could no 
longer contain himself. He pursued the servant of God, 
crying aloud: "Wait, man of God, wait!" But Gerard 
urged his horse on, and was soon out of sight. The 
farmer, however, when he reached the city, related what 
had happened, and everywhere proclaimed that a great 
servant of God had come to Corato. 

Gerard had received instructions to stay at the house 
of a certain nobleman by the name of Papaleo. But as 
it was his first visit to Corato he did not know where 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 193 

he lived. So he gave the reins to his horse and quietly 
rode on. He did not wish to inquire in the public 
street, lest he should attract attention. For some time 
the horse continued his way through the streets, when 
all at once he turned towards a house, taking his rider 
directly into the court-yard. "Can you tell me," said 
Gerard to those who hastened to meet him, "where 
Don Felix Papaleo lives?" "Why, Father," they ans- 
wered "this is the place." Grateful to heaven, Gerard 
alighted. He had again experienced the delightful 
guidance of his good angel. 

In the meantime, the report of the wonderful destruct- 
ion of the injurious field-mice had spread throughout 
the city, and people hastened in crowds to Don Papa- 
leo's house to see the performer of miracles. Every- 
body rejoiced at his arrival, and thanked those who 
had called him. What they saw in him, and what they 
heard of him, pleased them so much that they expres- 
sed their grateful appreciation of the privilege granted 
the good brother to remain among them for a few days; 
and they most cordially thanked those who had been 
instrumental in procuring the favor. The conviction 
that they should avail themselves of the counsel, ex- 
hortations and consolations of this extraordinary man 
forced itself upon the minds of all and caused Don 
Papaleo's house to be the most frequented place in the 
city. Priests and. laymen, noblemen and the poor paid 
him daily visits ; some to tell them of their trials and 
to seek consolation ; others to speak to him about the 
affairs of their soul and to ask his advice. Eveiyone 
went away highly edified by his virtue and his divine 
eloquence. 

The life, however, which Gerard led in Don Papaleo's 
house, was not essentially different from that which he 
was accustomed to lead at Iliceto, He ate little, 
slept on the hard floor, scourged himself most severely 



194 LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 

at a late hour of the night, always appeared humble, 
pious, patient, amiable, and conspicuous by the charm 
of his winning simplicity and meekness. He united to 
his teaching and exhortations the best example, and 
thus enkindled in the hearts of the people of Corato 
the fire of divine love ; they regarded and esteemed 
him "as a learned and holy director of souls." 

The special object of his holy zeal were the two con- 
vents of nuns in Corato ; the one belonged to the nuns 
of St. Dominic, the other to the nuns of St. Benedict. 

In this place he also gave to the nuns the same im- 
pressive exhortations that he had given to the poor 
Clares in his native town. He spoke to them of flight 
from the world and its spirit ; of the necessity of avoid- 
ing useless conversation in the parlor, of total detach- 
ment from creatures, and of union with the Lord in 
prayer, and by means of Holy Communion. Here, too, 
his simple and holy words produced the most wonder- 
ful results. 

In the convent of the Dominican nuns, the original 
austerity and regularity flourished no longer. The spi- 
rit of the world had sadly encroached upon it, and Avith 
this came tepidity in the performance of all religious 
duties, as well as that astonishing thoughtlessness which 
makes it possible for religious to wear a habit and to 
life in a place in glaring contrast with their life and 
their sentiments. 

Gerard knew this and made up his mind to grapple 
with the abuses which existed among these nuns, and 
with God's help, to awaken in the convent a new relig- 
ious life. He brought about what a hundred others had 
failed to accomplish, if not perfectly, at least in part. 

At his first interview he already skillfully drove a 
wedge, as it were, into their hearts ; he opened their 
hearts daily more and more to grace ; the will that was 
good in the beginning, gradually developed more and 



LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 195 

more into a true, firm resolution, which was finally car- 
ried into effect. Thus Gerard affected a general reform, 
a thorough change of the life led in the convent, and 
the total abolition of the most deeply-rooted abuses. 
The nuns resolved to give up their frequent intercourse 
with the outside world, to restore community life, to 
remove all that was contrary to poverty, and to con- 
form in every thing to the religious spirit. 

Several times when the old leaven showed itself and 
threatened to impede and lessen the good work that 
had been begun, Heaven came to the assistance of the 
reformer, and gave to the irresolute nuns such hints as 
could not be misunderstood. 

Thus, — to mention only one incident of the kind, — 
there was a window of the convent which faced the 
public street; Gerard desired that it should be remov- 
ed. He took his crucifix, and while fastening it to the 
window said : "The nuns who wish to lie saved should 
look at nothing but at Jesus crucified." But they feign- 
ed not to understand him, for they did not wish to make 
this sacrifice. 

Yet how great was their astonishment and shame 
when they found the window entirely walled up one 
morning? Who could have done this ? It would not 
be reasonably supposed that some one had entered 
the convent during the night and walled it up without 
making a noise. They finally acknowledged that the 
angels had done the service of masons for Gerard; 
however this may have been, this wonderful occurrence 
created a profound impression in the convent, and 
greatly aided the general reform. The evident marks 
of the pleasure of God toward him contributed to this. 
One day Gerard was giving his usual discourse and 
was speaking of the love of our Lord towards man and 
of his death on the Cross, when quite an extraordinary 
joy seized him and his soul became thoroughly pene- 



196 LABORS AT MURO AND CORATO. 

trated with an excess of heavenly desires. His heart 
was so agitated that he could no longer restrain his 
feelings. His bosom heaved, his face was all aglow, his 
eyes were raised to heaven, and with his hands he seiz- 
ed the iron bars of the grate, sighed, and appeared 
about to succumb to the attacks of sweet and powerful 
emotions. 

After a little while he recovered consciousness, be- 
came quiet, and asked for some water. He drank a few 
drops of it, and washed himself with it in order to cool 
the ardor of his love. A lasting and effective remem- 
brance of Gerard was associated with Vincentia Pal- 
mieri, a young lady, who was receiving her education 
at the convent. She was the daughter of a rich family 
at Naples, and an heiress of great wealth. She was 
anxiously looking forward to the hour when she would 
return to the world ; she did not manifest the least sign 
of a religious vocation. 

Gerard, who, as we have already mentioned, enter- 
tained a great desire to win virginal souls to be the 
spouses of our Lord, having heard of young Palmieri, 
wished to see her and to speak to her. The girl came, 
acknowledged to the brother, among other things, the 
extreme disgust which she felt for monastic silence 
and for a life between four impenetrable walls. Gerard 
listened cpiietly to all that she had to communicate ; 
then he said: "You desire, my child, to l:ave this 
house? No! here is your place; just here you will be 
a nun." Vincentia answered that her ambitions and 
inspirations did not tend to a religious life, she loved 
the world too well. "Well," said Gerard, ''you will ab- 
andon this idea and purpose ; you will become a nun 
in this convent, and live long for the edification of 
others." 

And really, when the mother came to take her daugh- 
ter back to Naples with her, Vincentia did not wish to 



LABORS AT MUEO AND C01IAT0. 197 

go home; she was now quite changed. ; instead of Na- 
ples she now desired the novitiate. She was received, 
made her profession, and led, as Gerard had foretold, 
a holy life in the Order. She was nearly a hundred 
years old when she died, and was consoled in her 
last moments by a vision of the glorious Patriarch 
St. Joseph. 

The convent of the Dominican, as well as that of 
the Benedictine nuns derived the greatest profit from 
Gerard's sojourn at Cora to. He visited them frequent- 
ly, and his words, spoken with so much unction and 
ardor, produced innumerable fruits of salvation. 

The pious abbess of the convent felt the greatest 
confidence in the servant of God, so that she made 
known to him her interior. The office of directress 
weighed heavily on her and she would have been happy 
to be relieved ; she therefore asked Gerard at every 
visit to pray to the Lord that the heavy and responsible 
burden might be taken from her shoulders, and that 
her prayers in this regard might be heard. "Your 
prayers will be heard, and very soon," said Gerard, 
"but the Lord will take from you this cross only to 
give you another, which you must carry to the end of 
your life." The resignation of the abbess was accep- 
ted a short time after; but very soon after her most ar- 
dent wish was granted, her foot became affected with 
a cancer, and this disease caused her the most dread- 
ful sufferings, borne till death with most edifying pa- 
tience and resignation. 

It was also in the church of the Benedictine nuns 
that our Lord wished to glorify His servant in such a 
manner that the veneration which the people of Corato 
already entertained for the saintly brother should reach 
its crowning point. 

In the year 1753, Good Friday fell on the 20th. of 
April. On the afternoon of this day, according to an 



198 LABOES AT MUBO AND CORATO. 

old custom, there was a tenderly expressive image of 
the crucified Redeemer carried in solemn procession 
through the streets of the city. "When the procession 
arrived at the church of the Benedictine nuns the ser- 
vant of God was engaged in prayer and meditation on 
the sufferings of the Son of God. As soon as he saw 
the image of the crucified Lord, being seized by some 
supernatural power, he was visibly raised in the air, 
and remained in this position for some time ; his eyes 
fixed on our Lord. Those who were present gazed at 
him astonished, and regarded the saintly young man 
with reverent awe, deemed worthy as he was, of these 
extraordinary favors from heaven. 

Meanwhile, Gerard's stay at Corato was drawing to a 
close. As soon as the Easter holidays ended the good 
brother announced that he must set out immediately for 
Iliceto. His friends wished to dissuade him from his 
purpose ; there was no need of hurry said they ; neither 
a messenger nor a letter had come from his Superior 
demanding so speedy a departure. Gerard, however, 
said in reply to all their arguments : "I am called; I 
must go." 

In fact, Father Fiocchi — as he himself admitted 
subsequently to Canon Giove — had given the com- 
mand, in spirit, that Gerard should come home, just at 
the time when the servant of God became restless at 
Corato, and declared that he wished to depart. 

In regard to Gerard's labors so rich in blessings, at 
Corato, we are in possession of a short account by an eye- 
witness, Don Francis Xavier Scoppa, a priest of Melfi, 
who was at that time in the cit}% and who wrote to the 
Father Rector at Iliceto. The biographer of Gerard, Fa- 
ther Landi, and also Father Tannoja, have transmitted 
the account to us. It is dated April 24, and is as fol- 
lows : 

"Divine Providence had led Brother Gerard to Co- 



LABOKS AT MUEO AND CORATO. 199 

rato, for the salvation of a large number of souls. His 
appearance and Lis good example have edified the 
whole city, and have effected most wonderful conver- 
sions. Ladies and gentlemen of high rank have ap- 
proached him, and a word from his lips was often suf- 
ficient to penetrate them with grief, and to move their 
hearts. 

"It is impossible for me to speak of this matter in 
detail. Your Reverence can scarcely imagine the num- 
ber of priests and noblemen who visited him, and the 
zeal they displayed to accompany him everywhere. 
He was actually carried about in triumph, like a saint 
just come from heaven. Many could not resign them- 
selves to a separation from him before a very late hour 
in the night. His words penetrated the heart like a 
dart, and often, among the vast multitude, one heard 
nothing but sighs. 

"Not only were the people moved to hate vice; even 
a convent in which the nuns did not lead an edifying 
life reformed in consequence, of his admonitions. A 
single interview with Gerard turned them from every 
species of vanity, and made them submissive and obe- 
dient to their Superior. 

"All the inhabitants of Corato are enraptured with 
Brother Gerard, and the whole city has been thrown 
into salutary exitenient by him, so that about twenty 
or more priests and noblemen are preparing to hasten 
to your house to make a retreat. They desire that a 
mission be given in November. 

"Lhope that I shall find an opportunity to kiss the 
hand of your Reverence, and be able to report every 
thing by word of mouth." 

From this time forward, says Father Landi, the city 
of Corato was especially attached to the Congregation 
of the Most Holy Redeemer, and the intercourse of its 
inhabitants with the convent at Iliceto became more 



200 LABORS AT MUBO AND CORATO. 

frequent. In spite of the distance, at least forty men 
from Corato made an annual retreat. The mission was 
most astonishingly successful; and to the present day — 
Father Landi wrote in the year 1780 — two Fathers 
preach every year at Corato ; their sermons during the 
past eight years always bearing abundant fruit. 

Gerard's name was on the lips of all, and his edifying 
behavior during the few days which he spent in the 
city, was marked by very extraordinary results even in 
later years. 

"On the occasion of Gerard's stay at the house of 
Papaleo's family," — such are the words of Father 
John Camillus Kipoli in the process of beatification — 
"he became known to the whole city. He was a model 
of virtue and penance, a man distinguished by the gift 
of miracles and by his knowledge of hearts ; he was ven- 
erated everywhere as a saint. His memory was bles- 
sed among us for a long time, and inspired me, in 1798, 
to enter the Congregation of the Most Holy Eedeemer." 



CHAPTER XTI. 

The Angel Of Peace At Castelgrande. 



On Tuesday, the 24th. of April, 1753, Brother Gerard 
came from Corato to Iliceto where he was enabled to 
spend nearly the whole month of May in solitude, except- 
ing a few days during which he was in Atella on busi- 
ness. In June however, we find him away from home for 
quite a while in Castelgrande, a short distance from 
Muro. 

The servant of God was well known in Castelgrande. 
In his capacity of tailor he had a number of customers 
in that place. When he allowed himself to be ridicul- 
ed and beaten as a fool, for the love of his Redeemer, 
one of the most touching scenes of his patience and 
self-denial was here enacted. The street Le Pietre 
then saw Gerard dragged over the stones by a crowd 
of mischievous boys; and it was at the house of Carusi, 
in the same street, where he arose covered with blood 
and horribly wounded. It was in this house at Castel- 
grande, that Gerard was wanted. 

For a considerable time Marco Carusi's house was 
the abode of the most bitter, deadly hatred. A young 
man of twenty-one years, the son of this prominent 
family, had become involved in a quarrel with a notary 
named Martino Carusi, a few years before. They prob- 
ably belonged to the same family, and in the duel which 
followed, Martino killed his opponent. In consequence 
of this, the parents of the young man conceived so 
great a hatred towards the murderer that they would 
not listen to any proposal for reconciliation. The rel- 
atives of the guilty one did all in their power to establish 
peace and to remove the scandal which this enmity 
had caused. All was in vain. Marco Carusi and his 



202 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGBANDE. 

"wife rejected all entreaties with unyielding persever- 
ance. Their grief for the loss of their dear son had 
made their hearts insensible and unyielding to every- 
thing except revenge. It was justly feared that the 
evil, however great it already was, would not rest here, 
but would produce additional trouble. 

Gerard was asked to intercede for them and to help 
them in restoring peace. A few prominent persons cal- 
led upon Father Fiocchi to allow Brother Gerard to go 
to Castelgrande to reconcile those that were at variance. 

The request would hardly have been granted had Fa- 
ther Cafaro not very strongly supported the petition. 
The latter was just then giving a mission in Guardia, in 
the diocese of San Angelo dei Lombardi, and found an 
opportunity to examine the state of affairs more close- 
ly. In a letter which he wrote to Father Fiocchi he 
represented the matter in all its details, and also gave 
his own views on the subject, so that the Rector finally 
consented. 

Gerard, accompanied by Brother Francis Fiore, set 
out at once for Castelgrande. 

As the heat at that time was very oppressive and the 
distance great, many great difficulties had to be en- 
countered in making the journey, but the zealous ser- 
vant of God regarded this as unworthy of notice. 

The devil was preparing more serious difficulties than 
those of the journey for the servant of God. No doubt, 
the evil spirit had a presentiment of the defeat which 
he was to suffer at Castelgrande. He attacked him 
more severely than usual, and permitted him no rest 
during the whole journey. It was the devil's intention 
to confuse Gerard's mind by illusions and to frighten 
him by terrors, so as to divert him from his undertak- 
ing. a) But it was of the greatest benefit to Gerard to 

i) What those terrors and illusions of the evil spirit were, 
has not been recorded in the sources of information handed 
down to us. 



THR ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 203 

have undertaken the journey merely out of obedience. 

"Out of obedience," said he to the tempting and an- 
noying oppressor, "I am fulfilling the command of 
God ; but you, O hellhound ! may devour yourself in 
impotent rage, and return to the infernal abyss." 

On the way to his destination the servant of God 
was obliged to pass by Ruvo, a town in which he was 
highly esteemed. Knowing this, and disliking nothing 
so much as the honor and respect paid him, he did not 
wish to travel through this place, but endeavored to» 
escape notice, by following another road. The inhabi- 
tants, however, had received information that the saint- 
ly lay-brother was on his way to Castelgrande. They 
were aware of the humility of the servant of God, and 
placed guards in the fields around Ruvo ; this circum- 
stance made it impossible for Gerard to pass by with- 
out being noticed. 

Though he had taken a solitary path, of a sudden he 
saw himself surrounded by a number of country peo- 
ple, who led him in triumph, as it were, to their little 
town. Here he was obliged to spend a few hours in 
answering questions and in hearing the complaints of 
the good people. This he did in so affable and gentle 
a manner, that they were greatly consoled and satisfied 
by the instructions he gave them. 

The day was declining when Gerard proceeded on 
his journey with his companion. It was his custom to 
travel a foot, as he always offered the use of his horse 
to his companion. When they arrived at the base of 
the mountain called de Rapone, which they were oblig- 
ed to climb, Gerard began to feel very tired. All at 
once a white horse approached him as if it had come 
to be at his service. Whence it came, and to whom it 
belonged, no one ever knew. The servant of God 
mounted the mysterious horse 1 ) without exhibiting the 

D We say "mysterious;" for whether it was an animal 
sent to the servant of God by Divine Providence, or whether 



204 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 

least fear, and could now keep pace with his compan- 
ion. But the animal soon left the road leading to Cas- 
telgrande, and carried the rider to a place surrounded 
by precipices, which the people called Difauci. Ger- 
ard noticed the danger, and sternly commanded the 
animal to proceed in the direction of Castelgrande ; and 
behold! the horse obeyed the order. Without further 
trouble, the servant of God reached the town late in 
the evening. 

We have a detailed account of the arrival of the 
saintly brother, written by Doctor CajetanFedericci, at 
the time mayor of Castelgrande. He was a special 
friend of the Congregation, and therefore offered Ger- 
ard hospitality. 

"It was," he says, "in June, 1753. Brother Gerard 
arrived at my house after the Angelus. One of my 
neighbors, Isabella Sebastiano, had a daughter who 
suffered from very strange attacks of madness, which 
appeared to have been superinduced by diabolical in- 
fluence. When she heard that the saintly brother was 
coming to the city, she implored me to intercede for 
her with Gerard, to deliver her daughter from the great 
torture which she was suffering. After supper I retir- 
ed for a short time in order to muster up courage to 
accomplish the task which had been imposed upon me. 

"On my return, the love of God was under discus- 
sion. Gerard had raised his eyes towards heaven and 
his cheeks were red as roses. I addressed him, saying: 
'Well, 1113- dear Brother Gerard, it is necessary that for 
the love of God you should free a poor girl who is pos- 
sessed by a devil.' 

"At first he was somewhat reluctant, saying it would 
cause too great excitement. The more he objected, 

it was an illusion of the devil, annoying him on his journey to 
Castelgrande, is not known; it seems probable that the latter 
was the case. 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGKANDE. 205 

however, tlie more I importuned him. Finally, I sent 
word to Isabella that she should bring her daughter. 

"When the poor girl reached the door she cried out 
with a loud voice: 'He has already conquered the beast!' 
Then the girl without being led, ran into the room 
where Gerard was, and fell to the ground on her face. 
We recited the Litany of the Blessed Virgin; thereupon 
Gerard took his cincture, and a few other blessed artic- 
les, and applied them to the possessed girl. He mov- 
ed away from her and sat down. He seemed to be 
speaking to her, for he moved his lips, though no one 
could understand what he was saying. The girl arose, 
took a chair, and approached the brother. 

"At a sign given me by Gerard, I left the room, but 
kept the door ajar so that I could easily see what was 
going on. I now noticed that the brother continued 
to move his lips as if he were speaking, and then lis- 
tened to the answers of the possessed girl. This inter- 
view lasted about twenty minutes and then Gerard dis- 
missed her with these words : 'My child ! go now, and 
be afraid no longer ! Love Jesus Christ most ardently, 
and have confidence in Him.' " 

"The girl who before could neither go to confession 
nor visit the church, nor work in the field, was now re- 
leased for a long time and received the Sacraments 
again, and worked as she had done before her illness. 
In the meantime, Gerard informed me confidentially 
that it was not the will of God that she should be de- 
livered entirely from the torture." 

The evil spirit who had taken possession of this girl 
yielded much more readily than the evil spirit that had 
inspired the hearts of Marco Carusi and his wife with 
hatred and revenge. 

In order to deal prudently in so delicate and difficult 
a matter, Gerard sought above all to obtain an inter- 
view with the offended family. This interview was 



206 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 

cheerfully granted him, and at the appointed time the 
servant of God called upon Marco Carusi. 

In the meantime, Brother Francis was told to pray 
before the Blessed Sacrament; for Gerard "was convin- 
ced that a heart once possessed by hatred can be 
changed by no other than by Him "Who alone can mould 
the hearts of men like wax. 

The prayer offered by Fiore seemed to have attained 
its end. Everything went on very well. At the first 
interview with the father of the murdered young man, 
Gerard gained so much confidence that he was enabled 
at its close to make an offer of effecting a reconciliation. 
But, however great the impression which the words of 
Gerard had made' this offer Mas not heeded by Carusi. 
Still, the former bitterness had vanished, and at the 
end of the conversation Gerard was hopeful of the un- 
happy father resolving to make the sacrifice which was 
demanded by Christian charity and true honor. 

In fact, this was accomplished by another meeting. 
Don Marco declared that he was ready to forgive the 
murderer of his son, to shake hands with him, and to 
forget the past. The affair seemed to be settled ; only 
the solemn act of reconciliatior had not yet been per- 
formed. 

In the meantime, Gerard was urged to visit his native 
place ; as it was so very near he availed himself of the 
opportunity. He charged his host, Don Cajetan, to 
make the necessary arrangements for the solemn act of 
reconciliation, and then started on his journey to his 
native place. 

His sojourn there Avas short, yet not without special 
blessings and miracles. 

Bishop Vitus Mujo was sick at this time, and Ger- 
ard, when he visited him, found him in bed suffering 
very much from gout in his hands and feet. The pre- 
late was very glad to see the brother again, and recom- 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGltANDE. 207 

mended himself to his prayers, after having had a long 
conversation with him. "My dear Gerard," said he to 
him, "do pray to the Lord to relieve me of these pains." 
"Monsignor," answered Gerard, "bear them patiently ; 
it is not for the honor of God that you should be freed 
from them." "Without these sufferings," he added, 
"your grace, would not be saved." At another visit the 
saintly brother found the sick bishop suffering still 
more. "Oh!" cried Gerard in a joyful tone, "how 
happy is your lordship that you are able to suffer for 
the love of God! Alas! I, — I am suffering nothing 
for my God !" These words consoled the sick man, 
and pleased him so much that they remained indelibly 
fixed on his memory. 

Gerard's visit to Muro proved a specially kind 
dispensation of God for the wife of Alexander Piccolo 
at whose house the servant of God lodged, as on a 
former occasion. This poor woman, whose name was 
Catharine Zaccardi, had been living at enmity with God 
for many years ; she could not be persuaded to mani- 
fest her interior by a sincere confession. On his for- 
mer visit to Muro, Gerard had not said anything to her 
about this matter. The hour of grace had not then 
arrived. It had now come. Enlightened by God, Ger- 
ard remarked the sad state of Catharine's soul. 

He sent for the woman, and, while he revealed the 
great sin to her which she had long before committed, 
and which she had always concealed, he exhorted her 
emphatically, yet kindly, to approach the tribunal of 
penance with a sincere heart, in order that she might 
not lose her soul. "Make your confession, and prepare 
yourself for death," then, he concluded by adding; "for 
in a short time you will have to appear before God." 
The fact is, Catharine, who then was in the enjoyment 
of excellent health, became sick and died a few days 
after the disclosure which Gerard had made to her. 



208 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGBANDE. 

"We have reason to hope tliat lier conversion was sin- 
cere, and that she died, a happy death. 

Meanwhile, the evil spirit had been active at Castel- 
grande in every possible way to destroy the work of 
peace which Gerard had nearly completed. He avail- 
ed himself of the absence of the servant of God to wipe 
out the good impression which he had made on the 
heart of Don Marco, and to dissuade him from carry- 
ing out his good resolution. 

As an instrument for this diabolical undertaking, he 
used Don Marco's wife. The destroyer of souls well 
knew the mother's heart, its weakness, and its sensi- 
bility. These were the points which he attacked. He 
inflamed the deeply offended woman Avith new hatred, 
and aroused in her a thirst for revenge, so much the 
more since her husband was inclining to peace and re- 
conciliation. She yielded to the temptation and as 
Marco had expressed the resolution to effect a recon- 
ciliation with the murderer of his son, she violently op- 
posed it and would not on any condition hear of it. 

In her fury, she determined upon a plan which she 
believed would be most efficacious for her purpose. 
She collected the bloody garments of her murdered 
son which she had sacredly preserved and, accom- 
panied by her daughters who shared the hatred of their 
mother, she carried them to her husband. More like 
one of the furies than a mother who carries in her hand 
the effects of her deceased child, she held the blood- 
stained garments before him. "See here!" she cried 
out in her fury, "see the garments which the blood of 
your son has reddened ! Look at them, and then go 
and be reconciled with the man who killed him! The 
blood of your own child demands eternal enmity with 
the murderer, and cries for vengeance, and you ! — you 
are going to embrace him ! Alas, the prayers of a des- 
pairing mother shall yet find an avenger of her. son!" 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 209 

To this violent outburst of passion, Marco's heart 
could not remain insensible, especially as it had Ijnt 
lately been healed of the same passion ; kindred emo- 
tions were still fluctuating in it. In fact, Don Marco 
now forgot entirely the exhortations of Gerard. His 
wife had well known the proper way to fan into a blaze 
the lire that was still smouldering. The old hatred, 
the former revengeful thoughts were again enkindled ; 
of reconciliation there was no longer any question ; he 
was, it appeared, more obstinate than ever. 

Of this sad change of Carusi the servant of God was 
informed as soon as he returned to Castelgrande. 
Should he now desist from performing the work of re- 
conciliation? Should he retreat before the evil spirit? 
Should the latter come forth victorious from the 1 >attle? 
"No!" cried out Gerard, after the state of affairs had 
been explained to him, "no! the devil shall not be the 
conquerer." 

Animated with a zeal, the servant of God hastened 
without delay to Carusi' s house. That the first appeal 
to Don Marco and his wife should be fruitless, was to 
be expected. Though Gerard spoke most earnestly 
and convincingly, his words produced no effect on the 
hearts of these insensible people. The servant of God 
then fell on his knees. Taking his crucifix, he placed 
it upon the floor and invited them to trample upon it if 
they could, saying : "Come, come, and tread upon this 
crucifix." Such language caused terror and confusion. 
Both became deadly pale, and dared not accept the in- 
vitation. "Well now," continued Gerard, "just try to 
trample upon it ! — Why do you not obey ? You seem- 
ed to be filled with horror. You must know there is 
no other way : either you must forgive, or you must 
tread under foot our Lord Who has commanded us to 
forgive, as He forgave His executioners on the cross. 
Now take your choice !" 



210 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 

Don Marco and his wife were much affected and agi- 
tated. But hatred had sunk so deeply into their hearts 
that even the emotion which they now felt could not 
dispel it. Partial victory had paved the way for grace 
and Gerard continued : "Whether you will or not, you 
must forgive! Listen to me: When I first came to 
yon, I came to you in compliance with the re- 
quest of men, to-day I come by the command of God, 
and not at the request of any one. Hear what I say : — 
your son is in purgatory, and must remain there so long 
as your obstinacy lasts. Do you wish to release him 
from prison ? then become reconciled. It is absolutely 
necessary. You must also have five Masses said for the 
repose of his soul. These are the last words I shall say 
to yon, in the name of God. If you pay no regard to 
them, you may be prepared for dreadful punishments." 

After saying these words, Gerard turned away to 
leave them. They were greatly moved and would not 
let him go. "Yes," they cried out, "yes, we wish the 
reconciliation to take place, and it shall be done at 
once !" 

Immediately after this interview the reconciliation 
was celebrated, to the greatest satisfaction of all the 
inhabitants of Castelgrande. The two families ever re- 
mained in the most harmonious relation to each other ; 
the sad event, which had created the feud was entirely 
forgotten. 

Gerard repeatedly defeated the evil spirit in Castel- 
grande. On one occasion, the servant of God was 
praying in church, when two mothers entered, each 
leading by the hand a daughter possessed with an evil 
spirit. The presence of the servant of God tormented 
the evil spirits that dwelt in these girls, and they cried 
out in a loud, piercing voice, "Who is that person that 
is persecuting us?" The cry of the possessed girls 
roused Gerard from his meditation in which he had be- 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 211 

come absorbed. He hastened towards them, and when 
he perceived the poor mothers and the cause of their 
grief, he felt compassion for them. He encouraged 
them to have confidence in God, and then taking his 
cincture he gave it to the women saying : "Go home 
with your daughters, put this cincture around them, 
and they will soon be released. Do not be afraid when 
you see them faint; for that will be the moment in 
which the devil will leave them. But as soon as they 
are freed, they must go to confession and Holy Com- 
munion. Then the devil will never more molest them. 
Have confidence ! The Almighty is good and nothing 
can withstand Him." The Avomen obeyed, and their 
obedience was rewarded in the manner announced by 
Gerard. 

The presence of the saintly lay -brother was also a 
source of consolation to the sick people of Castelgrande, 
in many ways a cause of salvation. Every one wish- 
ed to see him, at his bedside or in his sick room, and 
to receive his blessing. Many cases are recorded in 
which his blessing effected a sudden cure. We will 
here describe only one of them. 

Among Doctor Cajetan Cianci's patients there was 
a boy, three years old, named Felix Pace, whose hands 
and feet had become crooked in consequence of dread- 
ful convulsions. He led the holy lay-brother to this 
child. The latter placed his hand on the boy's 
head and made the sign of the Cross on it as was 
his custom. Then the servant of God said to the 
broken-hearted mother : "My good woman, cheer up ! 
your son will no longer suffer from this evil." In fact 
the boy became well, strong and robust, and grew up 
without experiencing the old trouble. 

At times, however, Gerard did not wish to cure every 
sickness, and refused the petitions that were offered 
for this purpose. 



212 THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 

This was the case with Giuditta (Judith), the little 
daughter of his own host, Don Federici. The poor 
child had been suffering from a malady, which culmi- 
nated in blindness. Her mother, who greatly grieved 
on account of this misfortune, begged Gerard to inter- 
cede with the Lord in behalf of the poor girl, in order 
that she might regain her health. The servant of God 
promised to do his part, and requested her to pray. 
But he soon afterwards told the anxious mother : "If 
Guiditta recovers her sight she will be rained. Be re- 
signed to God's will! The child will be compensated for 
her loss, and will be able to perform the kind of work us- 
ualh T done by women, much better than others." The 
event proved that Gerard's words, the consoling ones 
as well as those that were less so, turned out to be 
true. The girl remained blind, but showed great skill 
in domestic duties; she also taught her younger sisters. 
Besides these and other wonderful deeds, Gerard's 
presence and his conduct while at Castelgrande assist- 
ed greatly in consoling, edifying and saving soxils. 

"His stay at Castelgrande," says Father Tannoja, 
"was in truth a mission for the inhabitants. To many 
of them, Gerard manifested the condition of their con- 
science. Moreover, his discourses were so efficacious 
as to produce a general change. Among others there 
were fifteen young persons who by their scandals had 
rained many, and whom no one dared to check on ac- 
count of their standing in society. These Gerard 1 nought 
to the knowledge of their sins and to sincere contrition, 
and gained them over to Christ." 

It may easily be understood why the entire popula- 
tion of Castelgrande became exited when it was made 
known that Brother Gerard was about to depart. More 
than three hundred people accompanied him for quite 
a long distance, showering prayers and blessings on his 
head. So high a reputation had he gained among the 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE AT CASTELGRANDE. 213 

people that the laborers in the field, noticing Gerard 
passing by, left their work, and ran after him to receive 
his blessing once more. Brother Francis Fiore walked 
a hundred paces ahead of the crowd that surrounded 
Gerard, and was therefore often taken for Gerard, and 
honored in every possible way by the country people 
who were hurrying from all sides to meet the saintly 
brother. In order to escape the unmerited demonstra- 
tions, he cried out whenever he saw a number of people 
hastening towards him : "I am not the saint, there he 
comes! there!" 

From Castelgrande Gerard repaired to Caposele, which 
was near by, partly to conduct the fifteen young men 
whom he had converted thither, that they might make 
a retreat ; partly, and perhaps chiefly in order to see 
and speak to his reverend director Father Cafaro, who 
was the Rector in our house at Caposele. Then only, 
he hastened back to Iliceto. 

"The fruits of his labors at Castelgrande," thus con- 
cludes Father Tannoja in his narration of Gerards stay 
in this place, "were so permanent that, for a long time 
after, every Saturday, a great many of its inhabitants 
used to come to confession to our Fathers. They came, 
not heeding the distance, which was seven or eight mi- 
les, nor the necessity under which they would be to 
spend the night in the open air. This great concourse 
of people made such an impression on Father Cafaro, 
that he cried out : "It is really wonderful ; wherever 
Brother Gerard goes, he occasions the greatest com- 
motion." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Sojourn At Melfi. Death Of Fathee Cafaro. 



The servant of God enjoyed but a short rest after 
his return from Castelgrande to Iliceto. Shortly after, 
he was appointed to accompany Father Stephen Li- 
guori who was in delicate health, and two other priests 
who were to take the baths at Melti. They left Iliceto 
on the 16th. of July. Brother Gerard was Avell known in 
Melfi. He had been there more than once, although 
only to travel through the place, or to stay for a short 
time. Having wrought so much that bordered on the 
extraordinary, he was well remembered, and was often 
the subject of conversation. 

But for an unfortunate circumstance, it would be 
possible to give a definite and most interesting account 
of Gerard's doings in Melfi. The Scoppa family, at 
Avhose hands the servant of God had received hospital- 
ity, were in possession of a journal, containing an ac- 
count of the works, teachings and miracles of Gerard, 
as recorded by Mrs. Scoppa, AVe regret that this pre- 
cious document was lost in a fire in 1838. Owing to 
this, we only know of an ecstasy and a prophecy dur- 
ing his stay with this family in Melfi. 

A picture of our blessed Lady was the cause of the 
ecstasy. The picture was in the house of Donna Anna. 
It hung quite high on the wall, and seems to have been 
shown to him by the owner ; at least his attention was 
rivetted on the picture, and he immediateh* felt him- 
self deeply moved. His heart became inflamed with 
love toward the Queen of Virgins, his spirit was trans- 
ported to the celestial world, and exclaiming: "Ah! 
Donna Anna, what pretty things you have!" he flew 



SOJOURN AT MELFI. DEATH OF FATHElt CAFAltO. 215 

like a piece of straw from the ground into the air, as 
high as the picture, which, with glowing countenance 
and enraptured, he seized with both hands. This spec- 
tacle so agitated the woman who was present that she 
fainted. 

The prophecy pertained to the father of a family 
who was very ill. In her distress his wife hastened to 
Scoppa's house where the servant of God was, and 
confidently asked him the simple question, whether 
her husband would die. 

"Do not fear", said Gerard, consoling her, "your hus- 
band will not die of this illness ; but it will be pro- 
longed." The prediction was literally fulfilled. 

In the summer of 1753 when Gerard arrived at Melfi 
with the sick Fathers, he did not stay with Mr. Scoppa, 
but at the house of a very pious widow, Victoria Bruno, 
whose son, Mauro Murante, a youug man of twenty, 
had entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Re- 
deemer. Only a few incidents relating to this sojourn 
have been preserved. 

The good brother took delight in cheering the suffer- 
ing fathers, and therefore frequently sang some well 
known song. Thus he once sang the following favorite 
stanza from Metastasio : 

"Se Dio veder tu vuoi 
Guardalo in ogni oggetto, 
Cercalo nel tuo petto. 
Lo troverai con te." 

(If thou wishest to see God, seek Him in everything; 
seek Him in thy heart ; thou will find Him with the !) 

He was accompanied on the piano. The words of 
the song, and the soft tones of the instrument, inspired 
him with holy excitement. He seized Father Stephen 
Liguori, who was standing near him, and putting his 
arms around him began to dance, and in an ecstasy he 
moved in a circle with the poor Father, who was try- 
ing in vain to release himself. 



216 SOJOURN AT MELFT. DEATH OF FATHER CAFABO. 

On another occasion, be was on a visit to the house 
of Canon Leonard Rossi, when the latter turned the 
conversation upon the divine perfections. In an in- 
stant, the brother was aglow; his exterior betrayed 
great inward agitation, and he seemed to have lost con- 
sciousness. The Canon perceived Gerard's condition, 
and having procured some water, he refreshed and re- 
stored him. When Gerard noticed that he had again 
been detected on his way to paradise, he became quite 
confused, and left the house. 

He was subjected to similar confusion on another oc- 
casion, when invited with Father Liguori to dine at the 
house of a priest, a great friend of the Congregation, 
Don Marco Murante. Whether he forgot where he was, 
or supposed that no one would see him, he acted as he 
usually did at home; he threw into the food some of the 
bitter herbs which he generally carried with him. Of 
course this action was noticed. Curious to know how 
the lay-brother seasoned his dinner, the mother of the 
host asked to taste some of the food on his plate, and 
Father Liguori also tasted it. But the food was so dis- 
tasteful that Father Liguori testified if he had swallow- 
ed the little he took, he could not have retained it. 

The servant of God gave proof of the power he had 
to heal the sick, and of his knowledge of the future, by 
what he did for Don Micliele di Micheli, a young man, 
who, while Gerard was staying in the city, was confined 
to his room by sickness. In his love for the sick, the 
brother visited him, and while taking him by the hand 
and feeling his pulse, he said: "What! you say that you 
have the fever? No, you have not, you are well." It 
was a fact. The visit of the servant of God had restored 
him to health. Henceforth Gerard kept him in sight: 
and on meeting him one day he fixed his eyes upon him, 
and said emphatically: "A day will come when you 
will be one of our number." "Oh yes," said Michele, 



SOJOURN AT MELFI. DEATH OF FATHEll CAFARO. 217 

"that will happen when I shall be able to touch the 
heavens with my hand." It had never entered his mind 
to become a religious. The name itself was offensive 
to him ; and above all, he felt a special aversion for the 
Congregation to which Gerard belonged. The words 
of Gerard were, however, verified. "When I was about 
to choose a state of life," Michele himself said to Fa- 
ther Tannoja, "for six months my mind was agitated 
by a thousand contradictory feelings ; but finaly, I do 
not know how it happened, I found myself ready to en- 
ter the Congregation, though several religious disuad- 
ed me from doing so, especially Monsignor Basta, who 
had a great regard for me." 

In the latter part of 1753 di Micheli was in the Novi- 
tiate at Ciorani, to enter upon religious life. He was 
faithful in the discharge of his duties during his career 
as a religious, and died the death of the just on the 
3rd. of June 1795. 

In the beginning of August, Father Liguori and his 
companions had taken the water-cure, and Gerard re- 
turned to Iliceto with them. A few days after his ar- 
rival it was reported that his spiritual director, Father 
Cafaro, was seriously ill; he was then in Caposele. 
Father Cafaro knew it would prove fatal. He seems 
not only to have had a presentiment, but a conviction 
that his earthly career was drawing to a close. 

"More than once," says St. Alphonsus, "he predicted 
his death. Eternity and paradise were his one un- 
changing theme for some months before he died. He 
often said to his companions : 'Tell me, what do they 
do in paradise?' On one occasion he positively said: 
'I shall die this year.' On the 5th. of August, he spoke 
more definitely about his death and said, 'I shall die 
this month. The fever will come on to-day.' That very 
day, after dinner, he was taken with the fever, and on 
the third day the doctors despaired of his life. 



218 SOJOURN AT MELFI. DEATH OF FATHER CAFARO. 

"During his whole sickness lie was an object of as- 
tonishment to all who knew him ; ever gentle, 

patient and obedient, and remaining in a state of con- 
stant and silent recollection. He constantly kept his 
eyes fixed on an image of Jesus crucified, and on that 
of the Blessed Mother 

"When one of the Fathers begged him to command 
the Community in the capacity of Superior, to pray God 
that he might be restored to health for the good of the 
Congregation, he said: 'No, no! it is expedient for me 
to die.' 

"When I heard of his dangerous illness, I sent him 
an obedience by virtue of my authority as his Rector 
Major and Superior, to get well, should such a thing be 
the good pleasure of God. When he heard of this com- 
mand he raised his hand in silence, thus signifying 
that his recovery was not the will of God. 

"In the beginning of his illness he was somewhat tor- 
mented by his habitual fears ; but after his director had 
admonished him to have confidence, he became quite 
calm, resigned himself to the hands of divine mercy, 
and with eyes fixed on the crucifix surrounded by his 
weeping brethren, he peacefully surrendered his pure 
soul to God, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Au- 
gust 13th. 1753, being only forty-six years of age. 

"We confidently trust that he is now united with his 
God, Whom he strove so earnestly to please, and Who 
was the sole object of his life. 

"When the tolling of the bell announced his death, 
general sorrow was expressed not only among his breth- 
ren but among the strangers who were then in the house. 
Before he was buried, one of his veins was cut and im- 
mediately the blood gushed forth. After his death, a 
large number of the faithful obtained great favors by 
having his relics applied." 
The pious hope to which the holy Founder gives ut- 



SOJOURN AT MELFI. DEATH OF FATHER CAFARO. 219 

terance, that the venerable Father Cafaro was immedi- 
ately after his death, united to God, seems to be confirm- 
ed by what happened to his disciple at Iliceto at the 
time of Father Cafaro's death. Gerard was just then 
in prayer and rapt in profound ecstas}'. Having re- 
covered, and being asked the cause of his joy, he said: 
"I saw the the soiil of our Father Cafaro going to hea- 
ven. He occupies a place next to St. Paul, because 
he always preached with zeal and ardent love, and gai- 
ned many souls for Jesus Christ." 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

Pilgrimage To Mount Gargano. 



A few weeks after the death of Father Cafaro, bles- 
sed Gerard had the privilege of visiting the famous 
shrine of Mount Gargano. 

The .scholastics of the Congregation who were study- 
ing dogmatic theology at Iliceto under the guidance of 
the young, and afterwards very celebrated Father Alex- 
ander de Meo, wished to take advantage of their sum- 
mer vacation to make an excursion to the well-known 
pilgrimage of Mount Gargano; they proposed the mat- 
ter to the Kector of the house, Father Fiocchi. The 
latter gave his consent, but expressly wished that Ger- 
ard should be their guide and that he should take en- 
tire charge of the pious band. Gerard was well ac- 
quainted everywhere; besides, Father Fiocchi knew 
this privileged brother could produce something out of 
nothing, and could multiply bread in their hands ; for, 
as we shall presently see, much could not be provided 
for the travelers. 

Nothing could have been more welcome to the ser- 
vant of God than this. We know that from his child- 
hood Gerard entertained great veneration for the arch- 
angel St. Michael, especially as the latter had brought 
him Holy Communion one night in so wonderful a 
manner. 

As is related by pious tradition, the Consecration of 
St. Michael occurred in a very remarkable manner, dur- 
ing the pontificate of Gelasius, who lived in the last 
decade of the -fifth centuiw. 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 221 

At that time, Mount Gargano, at the foot of which 
was situated the little city of Siponto, belonged to a 
rich man named Garganus, from whom is derived its 
name, and who used it as a pasture-ground for his large 
herds of cattle. It happened one day that a steer sep- 
arated itself from the herd and ran away. After a long 
search the herdsman found the animal tying at the en- 
trance of a cave. In order to rouse the steer, one of 
the men drew an arrow, which, however, was turned 
into the air as if by an invisible hand, and thrown back 
toward the one who hurled it. This occurrence created 
terror among all those who saw it, but no one dared to 
approach the mysterious cave. Finally, the matter was 
reported to the bishop of Siponto, who, having been 
fully convinced of what had happened, proclaimed a 
three days' fast and prayer that God might enlighten 
him what to do under these extraordinary circumstan- 
ces. At the end of three days, the archangel St. Mich- 
ael appeared to the bishop and declared that the cave 
was under his special protection, that he and other holy 
angels should be venerated there in a special manner, 
for the greater honor and glory of God. After this 
revelation the bishop and the people repaired to the 
place designated, in order to dedicate it for the purpose 
mentioned by the holy angel. Having arrived at the 
cave, they found it wonderfully arranged for a chapel; 
accordingly, the holy mysteries were immediately cele- 
brated in the sacred spot. From this time forward, 
Mount Gargano became a favorite resort for pious souls, 
and the frequent miracles that were wrought there at- 
tracted innumerable pilgrims every year. 1) 

The lapse of centuries could not weaken its power of 
attraction, and even during Gerard's time Mount Gar- 



D The Church commemorates the feast of the apparition of 
St. Michael, on the 8th. of May. 



222 PILGIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 

gano was highly esteemed as the throne of the great 
archangel. 

What therefore must Mount Gargano have been in 
the eyes of the servant of God ? it is easily understood 
that he hailed the announcement of the excursion with 
great joy. 

The whole company left Iliceto towards to close of 
September 1753. It consisted of ten persons, two 
priests Father de Meo and Father Spera, six students, 
blessed Gerard and a hermit, named Brother Angelo di 
San Girolamo. 

They journey, from beginning to end, was accom- 
panied by the most extraordinary incidents ; as a wit- 
ness in the process of beatification well expresses him- 
self, it was nothing else than an uninterrupted series 
(complesso ) of miracles of faith, hope and charity. 

When the pilgrims were about to set out, Father 
Fiocchi appointed Gerard treasurer, and gave him 
some money to pay the traveling expenses ; but it was 
not the requisite amount, for it consisted only of thirty 
carlines, -- a little over two dollars. This was a very 
small sum to defray the expenses of a party of ten, who 
were going on so long a journey, 

Gerard did not offer the least objection, and when his 
brethren told him that thirty carlines would not be suf- 
ficient, he used his familiar expression: "Iddio prov- 
vedera," (God will provide ) He knew how to communi- 
cate his own confidence in God to all, so that they look- 
ed forward to their journey without fear or anxiety. 

Two donkeys were hired to carry the small amount 
of baggage, or possibly one of the pilgrims avIio might 
become too much fatigued. Brother Angelo took char- 
ge of them. 

Foggia was the first stopping place. 

As is perhaps known to the reader of the life of 
St. Alphonsus, this city, the capital of Apulia, is in pos- 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 223 

session of an old, remarkable, miraculous picture of the 
Blessed Virgin. It was in the presence of this image 
that the saint, when preaching, was favored before the 
assembled people with the expression of the esteem of 
his Queen. For while he was praising the prerogatives 
of our Lady, and exhorting his hearers to love her, a 
brilliant ray of light was reflected from the picture on 
the face of the saintly preacher, and he fell into a pro- 
found ecstasy. The same favor he received a second 
time. 

The sons of St. Alphonsus could not neglect to visit 
this picture. Gerard was particularly anxious. 

In the city of Foggia the servant of God was no 
stranger. During several of the former excursions he 
had remained here and permitted his virtues and gifts 
to shine forth. Scarcely had the lay-brother arrived, 
when the clergy and laity came to enjoy his conver- 
sation, at least for a few minutes. They proposed dif- 
ferent ascetical and theological questions ; both mind 
and heart received genuine pleasure, for Gerard spoke 
about these matters in his usual masterly way, and 
answered these questions with great clearness and most 
astonishing wisdom. 

In the convent of "the Annunciation of the Blessed 
Virgin" (dell' annunciata), a nun wished to speak to 
him. She had many things on her mind about which 
she thought it would be beneficial for her to consult 
him. The servant of God complied with her wish, and 
conversed with her about the affairs of her conscience. 
In taking leave he advised her to prepare to appear 
before her judge, — an advice which no doubt startled 
her greatly. The nun was young, in good health, and 
of a lively temperament; it seemed impossible that 
death was near. Gerard had, however, given counsel 
at the right time, for after four months God called her 
to Himself. 



224 PILGBIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 

From Foggia, where tlie pilgrims had spent the night, 
the journey was 'continued to Manfredonia. But very 
soon Gerard noticed that the young men were not ac- 
customed to take long walks, and were considerably 
fatigued. So he resolved to hire a conveyance that 
should take the whole party as far as Manfredonia. 
When he mentioned what he intended to do, all cried 
out : "Where will you get the money to defray the ex- 
pense?" He answered as usual: "Iddio provvedera," 
(God will provide,) and actually hired a wagon that 
carried them to the place of destination. 

In the meantime the two donkeys fared very badly. 
They and their leader Brother Angelo could only with 
difficulty follow the wagon. The poorly-fed animals 
were not able to run ; they dragged themselves along 
at a very slow pace ; and finally grew so weak that 
Angelo had to remain behind with them. When the 
party had arrived at Condela, where refreshments were 
to be taken, neither he nor the animals could be seen. 
They waited and looked but all in vain. At last they 
descried the poor leader, covered with dust and bathed 
in perspiration. Gerard on his arrival made him take 
a rest, so that both he and the donkeys might be reviv- 
ed ; soon after, he gave the signal for departure. 

The hermit, however, objected; the animals were too 
tired, he said ; they must rest longer ; he would stay 
with them a little while and follow later on. But Ger- 
ard did not agree to this. "No, they must not stay 
here longer;"' he said; "come, you will see that I 
shall get them to move on." The anxious hermit 
had to yield, and mounted one of the donkeys. On 
the other was mounted, by the order of Gerard, 
the son of the owner of the hired conveyance. The 
animals were then harnessed to the wagon. When 
Gerard was seated he gave the donkeys a vigorous 
blow with the whip, and said in a loud voice : "In 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 225 

the name of the Blessed Trinity, I command you to 
move on !" The animals seemed to have new life ; they 
galloped with the horses, as if — to use Father Tannoja's 
expression — "they were race-horses." 

In this way all arrived safe at Manfredonia. After 
the expense of hiring the wagon had been defrayed 
there remained in the never Avell-filled purse the small 
sum of seventy "grains" — about nineteen cents. 

This however, did not discourage the man of provid- 
ence. He thought of his good heavenly King, and 
was anxious to have an audience with Him. On his 
way to the chapel of castle Manfredonia, he bought a 
beautiful bunch of carnations on sale in the market, 
and took it with him to church. Having arrived 
there, he paid his respects to the Most Blessed Sacra- 
ment, and mounted the steps of the altar, on which he 
placed the bouquet of flowers. "While doing this he 
looked towards the tabernacle as if in supplication, 
and said with touching simplicity: "Good Lord and 
Saviour! Thou seest that I have thought of Thee: 
now it is Thy turn to think of my little family." The 
chaplain of the castle, who was present in the church 
unnoticed, remarked this act of childlike confidence, 
stepped up close to see the pious adorer and his 
companions. When he recognized them as mem- 
bers of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, 
of whom he was a special friend, he called Gerard aside 
and gave him a most cordial invitation to be his guest. 
"May God reward you," said Gerard most gratefully, 
"but there are many of us." "That is of no account," 
-answered the kind-hearted priest, "I beg you to come. 
Everything will be provided for all of you, if you will 
only be satisfied. My good mother, avIio is with me, 
has, however, been ill these past two months, and can- 
not wait upon you. She is confined to bed and very 
weak." "But this can be remedied," interposed Gerard. 



226 PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GAEGANO. 

"Believe what I tell you ; go home, make the sign of 
the Cross on your mother's forehead, and she will re- 
cover." The priest trusted in the words of the servant 
of God, and was not disappointed. Scarcely had he 
made the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the sick 
woman when she felt well and strong, arose from her 
bed and was able to wait upon the guests. 

Of course the services rendered them were so unex- 
pected, the pilgrims could not even have dreamt that 
such treatment was in store for them at Manfredonia. 
Besides, the chaplain could not dismiss his guests 
without giving them a handsome present to enable 
them to continue their journey. 

But this extraordinary assistance was not the ouly 
advantage which the bouquet of carnations produced 
for the pious servant in Manfredonia. Another priest 
who had also heard of the touching appeal which the 
servant of God made at the foot of the altar, came to 
see the lay-brother, and to speak to him. The inter- 
view was very satisfactory, and full of emotion. When 
taking leave he promised to make a present of a silver 
censer to the church at Iliceto. The good priest kept 
his promise, and a short time after sent the censer, 
which was worth about sixty dollars, to the convent at 
Iliceto. 

The prophecy made by Gerard, that God would pro- 
vide, could not have been rilled in a more satisfactory 
manner, Therefore the minds of all, especially of those 
who had looked upon Gerard's arrangements with con- 
siderable distrust, were relieved of their anxiety, and 
they began to breathe that atmosphere of confidence in 
which the servant of God was constantly moving. 

The following day they set out in good spirits, in or- 
der to ascend Mount Gargano. This ascent was very 
difficult ; in a short time the young men complained of 
fatigue, and now one, then another, had to ride part of 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 227 

the way. Gerard alone walked as lie was accustomed 
to do, and seemed to feel no fatigue, no weakness. His 
thoughts were devoted to his beloved patron, whose 
sanctuary he was approaching. 

What joy when at last it was reached ! Then every 
one attended to his devotions according to the prompt- 
ings of his own heart. Gerard was soon so rapt in quiet 
communion with the holy angel that he did not know 
what was going on around him. 

In the meantime the young men had finished their 
prayers and were waiting for their leader, but he did 
not move, and when they approached him they noticed 
that he was in an ecstasy. As usual, his face Avas tiirn- 
ed towards heaven, his eyes were open, and resting on 
one spot ; his breathing was scarcely perceptible. For 
a while they left him in this condition ; they then re- 
solved to rouse him, for fear that he might become too 
much exhausted. To call him by name proved a use- 
less task; and shaking and raising him up had no effect. 
When he finally awakened and saw his companions 
around him, he was greatly confused, and said : "It is 
nothing ; it is nothing ! Let us now think of getting 
something to eat." After saying these words, he arose 
and left the church with the entire party. 

The following day was also spent in devotions. At 
an early hour in the morning the pilgrims paid their 
respects to the Prince of angels. Although Gerard said 
his prayers with the same joy and the same fervor as 
he had done the duy before, he did not forget the 
wants of his brethren. At the appointed time he 
gave them an excellent breakfast, and when the dinner 
hour had arrived, he acted as if a grand dinner was to 
be given. 

The young men were just then assembled around Fa- 
ther de Meo. Brother Gerard entered to announce 
that dinner was ready, and that they should sit down 



228 TILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 

to take it. As they knew that there was very little 
money left in the purse after supper and breakfast 
which they had eaten, they did not show any inclina- 
tion to accept the invitation, and looked at one another 
embarassed. "O you of little faith," the servant of 
God cried out to them, "is this obedience? Come now! 
sit at the table." While all were complying with this 
categorical command, and Father de Meo and the stud- 
ents entered the dining room, Gerard took from his 
pocket twenty-four "grains" — a few cents of our money 
— and gave them to Brother Angelo and told him to 
buy some bread. The latter obeyed, came back with 
what he had bought and joined the company at table. 
What a surprise for all ! They found Gerard busily 
engaged. The table was laden with different kinds of 
iish. It was a day of abstinence, and the good brother, 
like a well-to-do head of a family, placed before each 
one a goodly portion. 

But now Father de Meo asked the hermit who had 
ordered all things. Augelo could not give an answer. 
But one of the students named Ricciardi asserted that 
Gerard had had no more than four "grains" in his purse 
the day before, and could certainly have nothing where 
with to pay for the dinner. The hermit then gave them 
information which threw light upon the mystery. 

He then related that on the day before, Gerard had 
really no more money than four "grains," but that see- 
ing this deficiency he went immediately to the altar of 
the archangel St. Michael in order to pray, and soon 
after a man approached who handed him a roll of sil- 
ver coin, with the request to remember him in his pray- 
ers. According to another version, the unknown man 
said : "Take this and always love God." However that 
may have been this much is certain : the servant of 
God could not have been able, without the extraordin- 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GABGANO. 229 

ary help of divine Providence, to regale his brethren 
in so magnificent a manner. 

When the time had arrived for them to leave Mount 
Gargano, Gerard wished to settle his account with the 
innkeeper. The latter, a man without conscience, 
thought only of his own profit, and demanded an ex- 
orbitant sum. All representations and entreaties 
to moderate his demands were fruitless. "Very well," 
said Gerard, incensed at the mercenary spirit of the 
innkeeper, "if you do not reduce your rate, or if you 
ask more than is due, all your mules will die." 

This threat had scarcely been uttered when the man's 
son rushed into the room, and with tears in his eyes 
cried out: "Father! for God's sake come quickly; I do 
not know what is the matter with the mules ; they are 
rolling on the ground in a most frightful manner! 
Come, come quickly!" When the man heard this he 
was very much alarmed, and acknowledging his guilt 
he cast himself at the feet of Gerard and asked his par- 
don. "I gladly forgive you," the servant of God ans- 
wered, "but never forget this : God is with the poor! 
Things will fare badly with you if you ever dare to ask 
more than is due to you." 

The innkeeper did not wish to accept anything now, 
but the servant of God placed on the table the money 
to pay the board, and hastened to the stable, where he 
found the sick mules. He made the sign of the Cross 
over them, quieted and restored them to perfect health. 

The pilgrims paid another short visit to the arch- 
angel, and then began their march homewards. 

After they descended to the foot of the mountain 
they all felt very thirsty. "We shall soon come to a 
well," said Gerard, "there you can refresh yourselves. 
Have a little patience !" After a little while they reach- 
ed the well ; but when they tried to draw water, they 
noticed that the ropes that let down the buckets had 



230 PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARCANO. 

been removed. On account of the drought then pre- 
vailing throughout the country the owner of the well 
had taken them away, because he feared that the water 
might give out, if eveiy one were allowed to use it. 

The servant of God who was not concerned about 
himself, but about his thirsty brethren, called upon the 
man and asked him humbly to give him the ropes for a 
few minutes, and to be kind enough to allow the young 
people to refresh themselves. But he received only a 
gruff answer, and Avas turned away insolently. 

This man too had to be convinced of the wickedness 
of his behavior by a manifest miracle. For while Ger- 
ard was going away, he said, under the influence of a 
higher power : "You refuse to give water to your neigh- 
bor whom you should love as you love yourself. Well, 
then! the well will now refuse to give water to you." 
Having said these words, he left the place with his 
brethren. Only a short time had elapsed, however, 
when the man came running after them at full speed, 
and cried out: "Oh, have pity on the poor people who 
need the water of the well ; it is the only well in the 
whole district." Now what had happened? 

From the time Gerard had uttered the threat, a re- 
markable change was taking place in the well; its water 
began to diminish, and appeared to be drying up. 
This opened the eyes of the owner, and he acknowled- 
ged that there were evident signs of a marvelous pun- 
ishment of his uncharitableness and of his avarice. He 
was willing to give water not only to the religious, but 
to the two beasts of burden that accompanied them, if 
the man of God would prevent the drying up of the 
well. 

The students could scarcely believe what the man 
said : they had just before looked down the well and 
had seen plenty of water in it ; how could it be in dan- 
ger of becoming dry after so short a time ? Still, they 



PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 231 

convinced themselves of the truth. For, when over- 
come by earnest entreaties of the man, they had retur- 
ned, they actually noticed nothing, but mud and sand 
in the well. 

Gerard, who had conquered the stubborness of the 
owner, and thus saw that the cause of punishment was 
removed, now fastened the bucket to the ropes and let 
them down into the well. At the same moment water 
again appeared. After all had quenched their thirst 
the servant of God turned to the owner of the well and 
said to him with great earnestness : "In the name of 
charity, my friend, never refuse water to any thirsty 
man from your well, as it belongs to all ; otherwise God 
will refuse it to you. Or does not our Lord command 
us to love everyone? Be full of charity, if you wish 
that God should have mercy on you." 

The man never forgot this lesson. From that time 
forward the ropes were always left near the well, and 
everyone that passed by could refresh himself with a 
drink of water. 

Having arrived at Manfredonia, the party again cal- 
led upon the chaplain of the castle, who a few days be- 
fore had received them with such warm hospitality. 

The journey thence as far as Foggia, which had be- 
fore been made in a wagon without much fatigue, had 
now to be made on foot ; and, on account of its length, 
— it was over twenty miles, — was very severe on the 
travelers. Even Gerard was at this time among those 
who were exhausted and seemed to be in a worse con- 
dition than any one of the party. He was unexpected- 
ly seized with a hemorrhage from which he often suf- 
fered, as has been mentioned ; and the consequent ex- 
haustion was so great that every step which he took 
was extremely painful to him. 

In spite of all this he did not wish to think of being 
relieved, and while his brethren used the donkeys in 



4 232 PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 

turn, lie made the way ou foot, and endeavored to con- 
ceal his suffering condition from those around him. He 
never uttered a word of complaint ; and if it had not 
been accidentally discovered that he was spitting blood, 
he would have said nothing about what had happened, 
and would have borne his sufferings in silence. 

This trouble could not prevent him from showing 
his brethren the most delicate attention and effective 
charity, and from doing everything that he hoped would 
give them pleasure. Scarcely had they arrived at Fog- 
gia, where he might have found some rest, when he ex- 
pressed himself desirous of making an excursion to the 
sanctuary of the "crowned" Virgin (incoronata), which 
was situated at some distance from the city. 

Because his companions knew what he would like 
most, and were aware that it would not improve his 
health if they did not agree to his proposal, all were 
unanimous in approving of Gerard's plan. Therefore, 
under his guidance, they set out for the sanctuary. 

What happened to the saintly brother on Mount 
Gargano was here repeated. No sooner had he knelt 
in the church and said, a few prayers, than his spirit 
was rapt in the sweet bonds of ecstasy. The young 
men, however, had witnessed in the servant of God 
during the previous days so many wonderful things 
that they did not specially remark this new favor gran- 
ted him by Almighty God. Only one of the students 
spoke of it after Gerard had come to himself, and ask- 
ed him what had been the matter with him. "Nothing," 
said the brother, "it is a weakness from which I must 
suffer." 

After the visit to the "crowned" Virgin, the pilgrims 
turned aside from their homeward march into a road 
leading to Troy, in order to venerate a wonderful and 
very beautiful image of the crucifixion which was there 
exposed to the veneration of the people. 



riLGMMAGE TO MOUNT GAROANO. '233 

111 fact the students took the liveliest interest in this 
sanctuary, and derived great comfort from their visits 
to the holy image, which they prized as a sacred treas- 
ure, it being a remembrance of the saintly relative of 
their holy Founder. Father Tannoja says : "Gerard 
experienced greater consolation than others upon visit- 
ing the image of the crucified. He was transported 
with rapture." 

This pilgrimage was, in truth, an uninterrupted 
series of miracles and extraordinary events which aided 
them very much to confirm their faith, to strenghten 
their vocation, as it also helped them to acquire that 
spirit of piety and union with God, which must be the 
chief characteristic of the apostolic life for which they 
were preparing. 

Among the young men there was one who must have 
vividly remembered this journey with Brother Gerard, 
because a prophecy which was made to him at that 
time, and to which he paid but little attention, was act- 
ually accomplished. We mean Father Peter Blasucci, 
who was still a very young man, and had taken his 
vows a month before. He was the brother of Dominic 
Blasucci, who seven months before, in the flower of his 
youth, had ended by a holy death, and innocent and 
virtuous life. He was the Aloysius of our Congregation. 
To Peter Blasucci the servant of God had said dur- 
ring the pilgrimage to Mount Gargano that he would 
be appointed Superior-General of the Congregation. 
Forty years afterwards the prophecy was actually ful- 
filled, for on the 24th. of April, 1793, the chapter elec- 
ted Father Blasucci Rector Major of the Congregation, 
which he governed for twenty-three years, till his death 
in 1816. 

The journey of the saintly brother had covered fully 
nine days. When on his arrival at the convent he hand- 
ed the purse to the Superior, it was found to be heavier 



234 PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT GARGANO. 

than on the day lie received it from him. Father 
Fiocchi was therefore not disappointed in his expect- 
ations that the confidence in God possessed by the 
brother was the most valuable purse he could have gi- 
ven to the pilgrims. 



CHAPTEK XV. 

Labors At Melfi And Lacedogna. 



During his stay at Melfi in August, Gerard had made 
a favorable impression upon Monsignor Basta, the 
bishop of that place, who, in consequence, was most 
desirous of again seeing him, as soon as possible in his 
diocese. The solemn novena celebrated annually in 
the church of St. Theodore at Melfi afforded him an 
opportunity of effecting this. He invited Father Fiocchi 
to preach, and begged him to allow Gerard to accom- 
pany him. The Rector of Iliceto acquiesced, and ar- 
rived in Melfi towards the close of October, 1753. The 
feast of St. Theodore was celebrated on the 9th. of 
November. 

This visit of Gerard was hailed by the inhabitants 
of Melfi with acclamations of joy. Never before had so 
many persons attended the novena. Everybody wished 
to see the holy brother, and to learn something from 
him. 

Monsignor Basta proved himself most enthusiastic 
in this matter. He confered with the enlightened re- 
ligious for many an hour as he had done on a former 
occasion, and confiding in his extraordinary gifts, his 
clear insight, and the wonderful accuteness of his jud- 
gement, he did not hesitate to submit the most intri- 
cate cases to his decision. 

The clergy faithfully imitated the example of their 
bishop. Able priests, and especially confessors haste- 
ned to Gerard to propose to him their doubts and diffi- 
culties in regard to the care and direction of souls. He 



236 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

answered all with the wisdom of a saint, solved their 
doubts in all sincerity, and explained things to the 
utmost satisfaction of those who appealed to him. 

His influence over the laity Avas not less great. Who- 
ever was troubled by any fear, or had a request to 
make, called upon him. Prominent men and women, as 
well as simple workmen and the poorest among the 
people, had recourse to his charity and were not disap- 
pointed. 

It is hardly necessary to mention that the children 
could not] resist his holy attraction. Ninety years af- 
ter Gerard had labored at Melfi, one of the children 
had still a vivid and pleasant remembrance of him. We 
mean the hundred-year-old Xavier Pascucci, who gave 
testimony in regard to the servant of God, during the 
process of beatifiation, in 1843. 

"When Gerard was at Melfi," he relates, "I was ten 
or twelve years old, and had the happiness to speak 
frequently to the servant of God. He always conver- 
sed with the young people who were accustomed to be 
around him, about the love of God and of the fidelity 
with which they should discharge the duties of their 
holy religion. He once asked us: "What do you give 
to Almighty God? What do you give Him?' And then 
he would sign our foreheads with the sign of the Cross, 
and he often distributed small pictures representing 
the sorrowful Mother, among us children. He led a 
very austere life. Several of us noticed that he always 
wore a rough hair-shirt. He also did very much for 
the poor. He frequently shared his food with them. 
I myself once saw him, while going to school, taking 
off his shoes, and giving them to a poor person. His 
great interest in the salvation of souls, and his zeal for 
the conversion of sinners were very great." 

What Gerard then accomplished in this respect was 
so admirable and of such great importance, that for a 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 237 

loug time afterwards people spoke of the conversions 
which he had effected, or for which he had paved the 
way, and the happy fruits which they now enjoyed. 

Whoever knew of a sinner endeavored to lead him to 
the brother, and the conversion was only a matter of 
time. 

Father Tannoja says : "A simple word spoken by 
Gerard was enough to make sinners contrite. If they 
were ripe for the reception of grace in the holy sacra- 
ment of penance, he joyfully led them to Father Fiocchi. 
Among others, this happened to several distinguished 
noblemen who had for years neglected the concerns of 
their soul, and had sunk deep in sin. A siugle inter- 
view with Gerard brought about a complete change in 
them. Afterwards they served as public models." 

Gerard's intimate knowledge of hearts contributed 
greatly to his success. 

Thus, at Melfi there lived a man who, concealing his 
sins for several years, had used the means of salvation 
to his own spiritual destruction. When Gerard met 
him, he knew at once the sad condition of his soul : 
"My son," said he, full of compassion, to the man, "you 
are living in sin ; why do you wish to die a reprobate ? 
Confess the sins which you have for so long a time 
concealed, and concern yourself about God's grace." 
The poor man could not deny the truth of these words, 
was very much ashamed, and called upon a priest to 
restore his peace of conscience. 

The same thing happened to an unfortunate woman 
who had not been able to remove a burden of con- 
science, in spite of frequent confession, because she 
foolishly persisted in concealing her true condition in 
confession. "My friend," the servant of God said to 
her, "how can you live in peace while you are an enemy 
of God? Why do you not confess the sin which you 
have concealed for so many years ?" This disclosure 



238 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

made the poor woman blush for shame. She resolved 
to hesitate no longer, and to fulfil the duty she had so 
long neglected. Gerard encouraged her, and she went, 
to a confessor who took an interest in her soul. 

Essentially similar, but more wonderful in its cir- 
cumstances, is the following conversion. One day 
when the servant of God was about to leave the epis- 
copal palace, he was accosted by a woman belonging 
to that class of persons who pride themselves on their 
external piety, and do not hesitate to display it. The 
virtue of this person was only assumed, and in order to 
increase her renown the hypocrite sought to associate 
with all those who enjoyed a reputation of great sanct- 
ity. Among these she would dispose of what she cal- 
led her mysteries, and play the part of a conscientious, 
pious soul. It was a matter of course, that her choice 
of a director was the most celebrated co'nfessor who 
was then at Melfi, Father Martino of the Order of 
St. Augustine. 

This unfortunate woman, Teresa Morante, also cal- 
led upon Brother Gerard. Gerard listened to her pat- 
iently and silently. After she had finished her hypo- 
critical discourse, he said in a very earnest tone of 
voice : "What ! you have a scruple : do you also wish to 
impose on me ? For many years you have confessed 
and communicated sacrilegiously, and now you act as 
if you Avere a saint. Go and make a good confession, 
if you do not wish to die the death of the damned !" 

Such an unexpected disclosure confused the woman 
and filled her with shame. The words "you will be 
damned !" terrified her. They were like a flash of light- 
ning from a clear sky. She immediatel} r went to her 
confessor, Father Martino. Without telling him about 
the pitiable condition of her soul, she merely said : 
"Oh, my Father, I am damned ! Do help me. I wish 
to make a general confession." 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 239 

It was pardonable that the confessor, believing that 
Teresa had merely trivial fears, reproved her for being 
so easily confused and disturbed, and then sent her away 
with these words : "Go, you are a fool." It was less 
pardonable, that in spite of the penitent's repeated and 
calm declaration that she felt her soul to be in a most 
wretched condition and that it was only the superna- 
tural knowledge of Gerard which enlightened her and 
aided her to become contrite, that he refused to hear 
anything more about the matter, lost his temper, and 
afterwards so far forgot himself as to censure the holy 
brother in the presence of several persons, and to call 
him an ignorant and imprudent man and a disturber of 
consciences. Luckily, Gerard's words exercised a grea- 
ter influence over Teresa than those of her irascible 
confessor, and the hypocrisy to which she* had been 
previously addicted was no longer powerful enough to 
resist the truth which had been so plainly made known 
to her. There was no rest for her, and she went to 
Canon Leonardo Rossi, to whom she sincerely con- 
fessed that for ten years she had concealed a sin through 
shame, and had thus committed sacrilege upon sacri- 
lege. Her contrition was now so great, and the detes- 
tation of her former hypocrisy so sincere, that she per- 
mitted the Canon to manifest to her ordinary confessor, 
Father Martino, the real condition of her conscience. 
She also expressed the wish — - nay, she intimated that 
it was her positive desire — that in case the virtues 
and miracles of the servant of God would be published, 
what he had done for her should not be concealed, but 
should be told just as it happened. Thence-forward, 
Teresa led a life which was both edifying and exem- 
plary. It is easily understood that such remarkable 
conversions rendered the actions of Gerard productive 
of much good. To these were added other, not less 
evident proofs of his sublime mission. Among the 



240 LABOES AT MELFI AXD LACEDOGNA. 

miracles which he wrought there is one recorded which 
took place in the house of Donna Bruno, of whom we 
have previously spoken. 

This widow had sold a considerable quantity of her 
wine; but when the customer came to take it, the wine 
in one of the larger casks was discovered to be sour. 
The man now refused to accept it, and the woman was 
not a little confused. Fortunately Brother Gerard 
visited the distressed woman that same day. Having 
been informed as to what had happened he made the 
usual reply : "It is nothing ;" then he ordered one of 
those papers on which the name of the Immaculate 
Conception was written, then in very frequent use, to 
be thrown into the cask. He promised that the wine 
would again be palatable. 

Donna Bruno hesitated. "Oh," said the servant of 
God, "why do you hesitate; are you to change the 
wine ? No, God will do that ; therefore, do as I said." 
She obeyed and Gerard's promise Avas fulfilled. 

At the close of the Novena, Gerard accompanied 
Father Fiocchi and the other Fathers to Atella, where 
they were giving a mission, not far from Melfi. In 
Atella the missionaries lived with Don Benedict Graz- 
ioli, a friend and benefactor of the Congregation, who 
took entire charge of the priests, so that the servant of 
God found leisure time for his pious occupations. 
While the missionaries were in the pulpit and in the 
confessional, laboring for the salvation of souls, he 
prayed before the Blessed Sacrament to aid them. He 
was particularly fond of doing this in the little church 
of the Benedictines, where he prayed so fervently that 
it was still remembered by these nuns in 1843, at the 
time of the process of his Beatification. 

From Atella the servant of God returned to Iliceto ; 
however, only to leave it again after a few weeks. 

The inhabitants of another city, who were prostrated 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 241 

with sorrow, soon after asked for Gerard, that he might 
come to console them. This was at Lacedogna, where 
Monsignor Amato, a great friend of the servant of God, 
a man whom Father Tannoja calls "the crown of 
bishops," discharged the office of chief pastor. 

A devastating epidemic had broken out in the city ; 
it was regarded by good citizens as a scourge of God, 
Who was punishing them on account of the many scan- 
dals that existed among them. Penance and a thorough 
amendment of life they thought would be the best 
means to remove the dreadful plague. 

One of the ablest of them, truly a man of God, the 
arch-priest Dominic Capucci, in whose family we have 
already met Gerard as an honored guest, was energetic 
in assisting the zealous bishop in his endeavors to re- 
move the scandals, and to bring the guilty ones to a 
sense of their duty. But all the efforts of the pious 
and zealous shepherds of souls were frustrated by the 
stubborness of these people. They did not heed them; 
and in spite of the fact that the fatal disease was rag- 
ing, the mostjscandalous disorders prevailed. 

Under these circumstances, the bishop as well as 
the arch-priest believed that the best and only means 
to stem to tide of evil was to send for a man, who, en- 
dowed with unusual powers, could change the hearts 
of evil-doers. The bishop, therefore, applied to Father 
Fiocchi to allow Brother Gerard to come to Lacedogna 
for a short time. 

The request of so eminent and noble a patron and 
Mend as Bishop Amato, who as grand-vicar at Conza 
had given effective aid to the establishment of the 
house at Caposele in 1746, could not be refused. The 
arch-priest Capucci, who was a spiritual son of Father 
Cafaro, also deserved that others should comply with 
his wishes by zealously co-operating with him in the 
srood which he had undertaken. 



242 LABOKS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

Accordingly, the servant of God set out for Lace- 
dogna, where he arrived, probably in January, 1754. 

What joy all the well-disposed inhabitants of Lace- 
dogna experienced when they again saw the good man, 
who three years before had edified them when he was 
in the humiliating and difficult service of Bishop Al- 
bini, — what consolation they felt when this holy man 
again dwelt among them, and called down upon them 
God's mercy, — what great veneration they paid when 
they received within their walls a religious who was 
everywhere prized, cannot be expressed. Gerard's bio- 
grapher, Father Tannoja, relates that the servant of 
God was received at Lacedogna rather as an angel than 
as a man. 

The epidemic then prevailing gave Gerard opportun- 
ity to render service to the sick, and by these proofs of 
charity to pave the way to the hearts of those whom 
he wished to convert. 

Thus he was seen hastening through the city, and 
from house to house visiting the sick. He made no ex- 
ceptions. He visited every one, the poor man in his 
hut as well as the nobleman in his mangnificent dwel- 
ling. One, Gerard would encourage to be patient; into 
another he would infuse sentiments of contrition for 
his past life ; a third he would prepare for the journey 
to eternity; many he cured in a wonderful way. Among 
the latter was the arch-deacon of the diocese, Canon 
Anthony Saponiero, who has given us a written account 
of his cure which we shall describe in his own words. 

"A very violent fever," he says, "had reduced me to 
extreme weakness. Lying abed had become a torture 
to me; my stomach refused to perform its functions 
and my head ached violently. Every day I believed 
to be my last. I received information that the servant 
of God had arrived at Lacedogna. I sent him word 
immediately that he should offer up a prayer for my 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 248 

recovery. Thereupon he sent a messenger to tell me 
that I would recover very soon, and that all I needed 
was to have great confidence in God. On the follow- 
ing day he called to see me. While approaching my 
bedside he said : "Praise God ! You are already well." 
And in saying these words he made the sign of the 
Cross on my forehead with his thumb. I immediately 
felt quite well and would have left my bed if he had 
not told me to do so only on the following day ; and 
this actually happened. Thus was my cure effected in 
a moment, by a miracle performed by Brother Gerard." 

By making the sign of the Cross, he cured a poor 
woman, in whose case the skill of the doctor had failed, 
and who greatly lamented her unhappy condition. "Cour- 
age !" said he to the sufferer, while making the sign of 
the Cross on her head ; "arise in the name of God, and 
come with me to the church where I wish you to go 
to confession." Wonderful to relate! The woman 
who had hitherto suffered so much torture was able to 
comply with this command. She went to confession, * 
and returned home perfectly well. 

Another sick person whom the miraculous power of 
the servant of God restored to health, was a certain 
Leila Cocchia. This poor creature was suffering from 
the most grievous of all diseases : she had been wast- 
ing away from the terrible effects of insanity. It was 
not possible to look at her without the most heartfelt 
compassion and without shuddering, for the demented 
girl was violent and often uttered the foulest language. 
She was, however, well known to Gerard, having met 
him before. 

For, when on one occasion he had come to Lace- 
dogna on a collecting tour, Leila hastened to call upon 
him to seek some consolation. Her mother had just 
died, and the fate of her departed soul weighed heavi- 
ly upon the mind of the bereaved daughter. Thanks 



244 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

to his higher gifts and his supernatural knowledge, he 
could afford her real consolation. He said: "your 
mother is in purgatory ; I advise you to offer for her 
forty Communions, then she will be released from her 
sufferings." Leila did as Gerard had told her ; and 
after the fortieth Communion the soul of her mother 
appeared, and giving thanks said that entrance into 
heaven was no longer refused her, that she was then 
going there. 

The sad state of this poor child was a source of great 
grief to the servant of God. As soon as he had been 
informed of the particulars of the case he visited her. 
He saluted her in a very friendly manner ; then as was 
his habit, he made the sign of the Cross on her fore- 
head. Scarcely had he done this when Leila began to 
sing, and praised God and the glorious Virgin, the 
Mother of God. Henceforth, no foul expression cros- 
sed her lips, she was entirely cured, and fully recovered 
her mental powers. 

. He was equally successful in treating those who 
were spiritually sick. Thus, he was enabled to fulfill 
the task which had been imposed upon him by the bis- 
hop and the arch-priest Capucci, to their fullest satis- 
faction, however impracticable it might at first have 
have seemed. 

He chastised those who gave scandal, not with re- 
serve and in an indirect manner, but with all free- 
dom and sincerity. This he could do, armed as he was 
with the power of God. If persons avoided him, he 
knew well how to find a pretext for visiting them at 
home. Though this did not decide their conversion 
at once, it contributed largely towards it. He stopped 
many in the street, and while speaking to them either 
in joke or in earnest soon succeeded in studying their 
disposition. If he found them ready for further con- 
versation he accompanied them home to further his 



LABOES AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 245 

plan. His lively faith made him a most convincing 
speaker: With ardent zeal he represented to sinners 
their folly and malice; impressed upon their minds the 
strongest motives for changing their wicked lives, and 
sometimes he cast himself at their feet entreating them 
with tears in his eyes; nor did he cease until they yield- 
ed, and were won for Jesus Christ. If this mild treat- 
ment was not sufficient, he also knew how to raise his 
voice in most earnest reproach ; but sometimes it was 
a threatening look that attained success. 

Among those who gave scandal was a very prominent 
man who seemed incorrigible. His excellent wife who 
was deeply grieved on account of the condition of her 
husband, begged Gerard with many tears to bestow 
his charity upon her husband, and to do what he could 
to bring him back to the path of duty and to the fear 
of God. The servant of God consoled her, and bade 
her pray. He then made it a point to meet the man, 
and spoke most kindly to him. His words seemed in- 
spired by God, so great was the impression which they 
made. Even while Gerard recalled the enormities of 
his life, the sinner was changed from a wolf into a lamb, 
and expressed sentiments which plainly indicated sure 
marks of conversion. The servant of God was very 
much rejoiced when he saw this, but was not satisfied 
with these manifestations of contrition. Before leaving 
the converted man, he made him promise that he would 
go with him to Iliceto in order to make a retreat. The 
man went with him, and the fervent retreat which he 
made was the beginning of a new life. 

Another equally notorious sinner, on his death-bed 
had already refused to see the priest at Lacedogna, and 
no one could induce him in this supreme moment to be 
sorry for his irregularities, and to make amends for the 
scandals which he had given. The whole city was 
thrown into excitement on account of such hardness of 



246 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGXA. 

heart. Gerard came, and having cast a glance at the 
obstinate man he knelt and said a Hail Mary to the 
"Refuge of sinners." The consequence was that the 
hard heart became as soft as wax. The servant of God 
accomplished his work without difficulty and was so 
successful that he soon prevailed upon the man to send 
for a priest and to make his confession. The priest 
came, and he that had been the prey of the devil so 
long was snatched from his hands before it was too 
late. 

The servant of God was just as successful in effect- 
ing the conversion of a priest who, unmindful of his 
holy calling, had been leading a sinful life for many 
years. Gerard met him in the sacristy of a church 
just as he was about to go to the altar to say holy 
Mass. He beckoned him to follow, and having led 
him aside, he threw himself at his feet and represented 
to him the enormity of his sin in going to the altar to 
offer the holy sacrifice to God Avhile guilty of grievous 
sins which he would not confess. Gerard's humble 
and earnest entreaty made a favorable impression. The 
priest repented, and ever after led an exemplary life, 
and was most enthusiastic in sounding the praises of 
the servant of God. 

The servant of God had again taken up his abode at 
the house of Constantino Capucci, the brother of the 
arch-priest. As before, this worthy family was a wit- 
ness of the grand virtues and the extraordinary gifts of 
this highly-privileged religious. They were highly edi- 
fied by his spirit of collectedness, his continual prayer, 
his pious affections, his severe penances! The days 
during which Gerard was at Capucci's house, were, for 
the members of his family, rich in fruits of grace. Noth- 
ing rendered them more fervent and helped more to 
advance them on the road of perfection than the differ- 
ent interviews which they had with the brother, and at 



LABOKS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 247 

which all without exception delighted in being present. 
The short discourses of Gerard about the love of God 
and on the necessity of saving one's soul had always a 
peculiar effect: they convinced by the simplicity of the 
disinterestedness and humility of the speaker, and by 
the fervor of his love for God and for his neighbor, and 
therefore penetrated deeply into their hearts. At times 
he betrayed a supernatural knowledge which greatly 
enhanced the impression effected by his discourse. 

. One day, the conversation turned as it usually did, 
on the grandeur of eternal life, and on the felicity that 
is enjoyed by the saints in heaven. The servant of God 
spoke as he generally did, with an eloquence which en- 
raptured all those present. Among them was a man 
whose baptismal name was Angelo, and -who, while lis- 
tening to Gerard thought of his wife, wishing that she 
also might be present and hear the charmingly beauti- 
ful discourse. But just as he conceived this thought 
the servant of God turned to him and said : "But, An- 
gelo, my friend, why do you not think of your own 
affairs, and derive some profit for yourself ? Why are 
you thus concerned about your wife ? As long as you 
think of the absent, you remove yourself from that 
which is here said for the benefit of all." The good 
man blushed, and was too much astonished to make 
reply. He subsequently told Constantino Capucci that 
Gerard had justly addressed those words to him, as in 
reality his thoughts had been busy elsAvhere. 

Many similar incidents occurred. This alone would 
naturally explain the great concourse of people that 
flocked to see him ; and so many visited him, that Ca- 
pucci's house resembled a public meeting house where 
people were constantly coming and going. He gave 
counsel, encouragement, and reproofs — everything 
with his usual admirable clearness and power. He had 



248 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

scarcely a moment that he could call his own, and was 
often kept busy till late at night. 

A certain lady of Lacedogna had also come to ask 
his advice ; being constantly troubled with great temp- 
tations, she felt quite unhappy. After she had mani- 
fested her interior to the servant of God he saw at once 
that she brought about these sufferings herself and 
said to her plainly and sincerely : "The fault, my good 
woman, lies with you, and only with you. You are not 
faithful to the Lord Jesus, in such and such a matter. 
Shut the door of your heart, then you will have peace." 
The lady was surprised, not so much at what had been 
said, but that Gerard read her soul so quickly and so 
well ; for she had to acknowledge to herself that her 
earnestness in breaking off a certain attachment, and in 
avoiding every dangerous occasion had been rather 
lukewarm. 

One of those who most frequently asked counsel of 
Gerard, was Bishop Amato. He consulted him about 
important affairs, and one might say that he actually 
put himself under the direction of this simple brother. 
Hence he never allowed any of Gerard's subsequent 
visits to Lacedogna to pass by without having a long 
interview with him. "To enter into a spiritual and 
theological conversation with Gerard" he used to say, 
"means to become his disciple, but he who becomes a 
disciple will leave him as a true theologian so great 
will be the light which he will receive from him." 

The most distinguished priest who followed the ex- 
ample of their Bishop was Canon Capucci. He never 
tired of conversing with the servant of God about his 
spiritual concerns. This intercourse affected lasting 
results. Although the Canon had been under the 
spiritual direction of Father Cafaro since the mission 
of 1746 conducted by our Fathers at Lacedogna, he 
had not yet secured that interior peace in the spiritual 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. '249 

life, which his dignity demanded. This deficiency was 
remedied by his intercourse with the privileged brother. 
Gerard taught Capucci the ways of the spiritual life ; 
pointed out those points which he should always bear 
in mind ; instructed him how to purify his aims and 
sentiments from what is worldly and earthly ; and suc- 
ceeded so far with him by his exhortations and coun- 
sels, which the pious priest accepted in humility, and 
with the docility shown by chosen souls, that the latter 
subsequently led a truly apostolic and virtuous life, 
and died a most holy death. 

While Gerard was laboring at Lacedogna, a sick 
man from Bisaccia, a neighboring city whose inhabi- 
tants had heard of the miracles, came to him and was 
eured. Hereupon Canon Cella, the Primicer of the 
Cathedral of Bisaccia went to Lacedogna and besought 
the brother to go with him to this city where an unfor- 
tunate man, Bartholomew Melchionne, was in great 
need of his assistance. He had been married but a 
year. Soon after his marriage he was taken with a 
very strange malady, wasted away, appeared to be half- 
witted, and showed signs of being possessed. A visit 
to the shrine of St. Anthony in Campagna proved use- 
less; the evil was not remedied. St. Anthony remained 
deaf to the prayers which were offered by the friends 
of the unfortunate man, because the honor of the cure 
was reserved to another saint. "When Gerard visited 
Melchionne, he approached him and uttered the words 
which were peculiar to him : "It is nothing, it is noth- 
ing ; you are well." He then said a few prayers over 
Bartholomew, and the man was relieved. Gerard de- 
sired him to come with him to the Canon's house to 
dine there. 

At table Bartholomew ate like a man in robust health, 
and being in the best of spirits sang a hymn with the 
servant of God. Besides the works of mercy, and the 



250 LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 

miracles connected with them, Gerard exhibited his 
higher gifts at Bisaccia by several prophecies and 
manifold proofs of his knowledge of hearts. When re- 
turning to Iliceto the servant of God was obliged to 
pass through Rocchetta. 

In this place there was a Calabrian workman who 
had been living with a dissolute woman for a consider- 
able time, to the great scandal of the inhabitants of the 
town. Upon Gerard's arrival there he was naturally 
informed of this great evil. He immediately sent for 
the man. The latter obeyed the summons. The ser- 
vant of God began to speak to him in a manner so im- 
passioned that he stood before him quite humbled and 
abashed. Gerard also exposed to him the secrets of 
his conscience, mentioned things which no one could 
know, and proved that he knew his interior so perfect- 
ly that the guilty man was astonished, put to shame, 
and very much frightened. He solemnly promised to 
change his scandalous life, and to remove the object of 
his unbridled passion at once. While Gerard saw the 
man humbled, repentant, and fully resolved to bet- 
ter, he directed him to an excellent confessor, and in- 
structed him how to complete the work of his salvation 
as soon as possible. The conversion of this man was 
permanent, and from that time he frequently came to 
Iliceto to settle the affairs of his soul. He subsequent- 
ly married, by the advice of Gerard, and returned to 
his own country. 

Probably towards the end of February 1754, the ser- 
vant of God came back to Iliceto. Meanwhile Satan 
had devised artifices which were to cause the servant 
of God many bitter hours during the following months. 

Before we mention the particulars of the dark days 
which came upon Gerard in consequence of this satanic 
resolve, let us cast a glance at the labors of the servant 
of God, which we have already noticed, but the nature 



LABORS AT MELFI AND LACEDOGNA. 251 

of which we liave liad no opportunity to describe to its 
full extent. They belong in a special manner to the 
vocation of this extraordinary brother, and should not 
be treated superficially. These labors consist in his 
apostolate, exercised in the convents of nuns, — his 
glorious work among virgins consecrated to God. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Apostolate Among Virgins Consecrated To God. 



The same intense love of God which made Gerard 
the friend, preserver and guide of poor sinners, also ex- 
cited in him a special interest in those who were resol- 
ved to walk in the road of perfection, particularly those 
souls that served God in the religious state. 

Those women who had consecrated themselves to 
God and were leading an austere, retired life in Avell- 
regulated communities, were, in his opinion, worthy of 
esteem and veneration. He never regarded them in 
any other light, except as the spouses of Christ. 

"Do not be astonished," he writes in a letter to the 
SujDerior of a convent, "that I am writing with so much 
pleasure ; I recognize in you the time spouses of Jesus, 
and this tills me with so much reverence that I wish 
I could always continue with you in the same holy re- 
lationship. Being spouses of my Lord, you remind me 
most vividly of my good Mother, the Blessed Virgin 
Mary." 

How anxious, therefore, the servant of God was to 
people the convents with noble-minded subjects has 
already been mentioned. But he was not satisfied 
simply to do this, as we have already had occasion to 
say; he also took an active part in the sanctification 
of those who had consecrated themselves to God, and 
likewise became the guide of a large number of them 
on the road to perfection. 

However opposed this occupation may appear to his 
state, the humility of his rank, and his immediate voca- 
tion, we cannot entertain the least doubt that God wil- 
led it. 



APOBTOLATE AMONtt VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 253 

Gerard was convinced that in assuming the spiritual 
direction of the nuns he was simply corresponding to 
a divine call. Had he himself occasioned the unusual 
occupation, had he recommended himself to his Super- 
iors as one called to such an office, and ready to assume 
it; the genuineness' of his vocation might have been 
doubted. But this was not the case. 

The first opportunity for Gerard's labors in this re- 
spect was afforded him by some bishops who believed 
him extraordinarily qualified for such work; they there- 
fore sent him to different communities, and his efforts 
were crowned' with the best success. 

Gerard submitted to the authority of the Church when 
he engaged in such work ; accordingly he was convin- 
ced that it was the holy will of God. 

The approval was determined upon, after a conscien- 
tious, severe and calm consideration of the subject, by 
his immediate Superiors, Father Caf aro, Father Fiocchi 
and St. Alphonsus, — men who abhorred what was 
unseemly and unbecoming, as readily as they recog- 
nized merit. 

To Gerard's Superiors nothing could give more con- 
vincing proof of his vocation than his spirit, wisdom 
humility, and later on the glorious results of his labors. 
This vocation was also proved by the testimony of all 
those who were able to observe him, and who unani- 
mously praised, not'so much his zeal, as the prudence 
which he showed while engaged in so extraordinary an 
occupation. 

Strange as it may seem that the poor lay-brother 
was a director of souls, and also the spiritual guide of 
nuns, there cannot be the least doubt that he had a 
true vocation for such an office. 

In regard to the fulfilment of the duties of this 
vocation, the servant of God labored in these different 
convents as an awakener of souls. 



254 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

What lie accomplished in the convent of the Poor 
Clares at Muro, how he stimulated the Dominican nuns 
at Corato to renewed fervor, and edified the Benedic- 
tine nuns of the same place, has already been men- 
tioned. We shall afterwards relate in detail what he 
effected among the nuns of the same order at Calitri. 
Of his labors among the religious of Atella we have re- 
ceived but little information. 

Father Margotta, a holy zealous priest, whose ac- 
quaintance Ave shall soon make, had restored commun- 
ity life in this place and had endeavored to confirm 
this awakened zeal by the spiritual exercises which he 
conducted for these religious. It was he who brought 
the servant of God in closer relation with the nuns at 
Atella. The bishop of Melfi was particularly pleased, 
and therefore encouraged Gerard to promote the holy 
work. Gerard spared neither interviews nor letters, and 
kept up an active communication with the convent. 
The nuns soon numbered him among their truest bene- 
factors, for besides offering them exhortations which 
were of the greatest benefit to them, he also induced 
several noble ladies to enter their convent. After his 
death, Gerard was honored among these nuns as a pat- 
ron saint, and many of them had reason to rejoice in 
seeing their confidence often rewarded with success. 
The process of beatification brought to light several 
miracles which were operated by the prayers of these 
pious nuns. 

Of two convents in particular, Gerard became the 
spiritual director, a fountain of wisdom, zeal and con- 
solation. They were the convent of the Most holy Re- 
deemer at Foggia and that of the Carmelite nuns at Rip- 
acandida. 

At the time there nourished in each of them a soul 
distinguished for sanctity, endowed with the most ex- 
traordinary gifts of heaven, well versed in the higher 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. Xo'O 

brandies of the spiritual life, congenial in mind with 
the servant of God, and hence desirous of his counsel, 
instruction and influence. In the convent of Foggia it 
was sister Mary Ccelestis Costarosa ; in that at Ripa- 
candida, Sister Mary of Jesus ; both were Superiors, 
and strict upholders of the monastic rule. 

Sister Mary Ccelestis Costarosa, in whom the gifts 
which heaven and the sufferings which the world be- 
stowed upon her were equally balanced. More than 
twenty years before she lived in the convent at Scala, 
where on the 3rd. of October, 1731, she had the famous 
ecstasy which had so decided an influence over the des- 
tiny of St. Alphonsus. In this state she saw a band of 
apostolic men moving with great zeal through cities 
and towns, offering and rendering their services to the 
most abandoned souls. At the head of these men, she 
saw Don Alphonsus, and. heard a voice which said: 
"Behold! this one I have chosen to be the founder of 
a work which is to promote my honor." Ccelestis com- 
municated this vision to the saint and thereby essent- 
ially contributed towards establishing the Congrega- 
tion. 

However, she was not to follow her vocation in the 
convent at Scala. After having spent some time at the 
conservatory at Nocera in which young girls were edu- 
cated, and having infused it with new life, she founded 
the conservatory of the Most Holy Redeemer at Foggia 
in 1738, over which she presided with the greatest suc- 
cess, in Gerard's time. The excellent education which 
under her direction the daughters of the most respect- 
able persons of the country received, was deemed a 
blessing not only for the city of Foggia but for the 
whole of Apulia. 

The esteem with which Sister Costarosa regarded 
the servant of God, originated in the reading of one of 
his letters, in which we find : "I desire to love God ; I 



256 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

desire to be united with God at all times ; I desire to 
do everything for God." The spirit of which these 
words gave evidence, corresponded entirely to her own. 
As soon as she found occasion for an interview with 
the servant of God, she revealed the similarity of her 
soul with that of Gerard, and the advantage which 
could be derived for herself and her community by a 
closer union with him. 

Gerard, on his part corresponded most perfectly with 
the confidence of the Superior at Foggia, and did not 
refuse to render the services which she requested. 
During his journeyings, or on other occasions when he 
stopped at Foggia and had a few moments to spare, 
he visited Sister Costarosa. One saw renewed in these 
interviews, those wonderful conferences of St. John of 
the Cross and St. Peter of Alcantara with St. Teresa. 
They encouraged each other to love God, and knew 
well how to communicate their thoughts and the emot- 
ions of their souls. 

This comforting intercourse with Sister Costarosa 
caused him to be more and more attached to the little 
convent at Foggia, and the invitation of Monsignor 
Peter Faccoli, Bishop of Troy, under whose jurisdiction 
the convent was, induced him to interest himself more 
zealously in behalf of all the members of this commun- 
itv. He accepted the invitation with pleasure. He 
sought to enkindle in the hearts of all the fire of zeal, 
and to urge and lead these good spouses of Christ to 
the accpiisition of solid virtue, to a love of sacrifice, to 
regular observance, and to an intimate love for their 
holy bridegroom. He accomplished this partly by let- 
ters, by short discourses which he gave to all the nuns 
in common, and partly by conversation which he held 
with them individually. His efforts in this respect 
made a deep and lasting impression, as the testimonies 
which the nuns subsequently gave, clearly prove. 



APOSTOLATEAMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 257 

"The discourses of Gerard," as told by one of the 
nuns, "generally treated on the wonderful attributes of 
God, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the saints. 
When he thought of God and spoke of Him, he immedi- 
ately became unconscious, ardently inflamed." "His 
heart," says another of his disciples, "was a volcano of 
the love of God, his countenance glowed like an angel's 
who comes from heaven to speak to us." 

These good nuns were witnesses of one of the most 
remarkable ecstasies that ever sized the servant of God, 
and this contributed in no slight degree towards pro- 
moting the right spirit in them. It occurred in 1753, 
on the eve of Trinity Sunday. Gerard came to the con- 
vent in order to console one of the sick sisters, just as 
they were chanting the first Vespers of the great feast. 
The solemn chant could be heard at a distance in the 
silence of the holy place. Gerard was suddenly power- 
fully affected, his spirit followed the chant, and he be- 
came rapt in a meditation on the sublime mystery which 
the nuns were about to praise. And as he penetrated 
into it more and sank into those abysses which are in- 
conceivable but refreshing, unfathomable but attrac- 
tive, immense but sweet, his soul soared to heaven and 
was infused with joy that can only be drawn from the 
fountain of all happiness. Quick as a dart, the brother 
hurried through the corridors of the convent, while say- 
ing aloud the words of the liturgy : "O altitudo divi- 
tiarum sapientiae et scientia3 Dei ; quam incomprehen- 
sibilia sunt judicia ejus et investigabiles via? ejus." (Oh 
the depth of the riches, of the wisdom and of the know- 
ledge of God! how incomprehensible are His judgments 
and how unsearchable His ways!) In the meantime 
the office in the choir was progressing. But the ser- 
vant of God remained in ecstasy, and after the sisters 
had finished and left the choir, they found him in the 
same state. While they were looking at him, he seemed 



258 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

to come to himself. He addressed theni saying : "O, 
Sisters, let us love God !" Then he became ecstatically 
immovable ; as usual his look was fixed ou heaven and 
his eyes were sparkling. Suddenly he was raised from 
the ground to a considerable height. He then recover- 
ed, very pale and quite exhausted. 

This ecstasy was followed by still greater proofs of 
the extraordinary gifts of Gerard. 

He cured a sick lay-sister with the sign of the Cross, 
when all seemed lost. With the sign of the Cross he 
likewise cured a malignant fever from which a girl was 
suffering, and for which medical skill found no effica- 
cious remedy. The one little word "well", from his 
lips, was sufficient to restore health. 

He also manifested his gift of prophecy. On one 
occasion while he, Sister Ccelestis Costarosa and other 
religious were engaged in pious conversation, he sud- 
denly interrupted the conversation and turning to one 
of the nuns he asked her whether she often went to 
confession. After she had answered in the affirmative, 
the servant of God begged her to become more inti- 
mately united with God ; "for," said he in confirmation 
of this request, — "the day of your death is not far off." 
The nun who was still young and in good health, was 
very much astonished at such language, as were also 
the others present. Many of them regarded the words 
of the servant of God as nothing but a joke. Gerard, 
noticing the incredulity of those around him, repeated 
his exhortation, and asserted that he had spoken serious- 
ly. "Even the most robust health," said he "often 
vanishes in a moment ; therefore my dear Sister, en- 
deavor always to be united with God ; in eight days 
God will call you to Himself." The Sister then looked 
at the matter in a very serious light, and carefully pre- 
pared herself for death. And this preparation was not 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 259 

useless. Eight days after the interview with Gerard 
she died a holy death. 

During the interviews which the nuns had with the 
servant of God in the parlor they were often accom- 
panied by a pupil of their house, young Gertrude de 
Cecilia. 

On one of these occasions Gerard turned to Gertrude 
and asked her to sing for her. Being very shy, the 
girl did not immediately comply, but was finally per- 
suaded by the brother and sang the favorite verse 
iaken from Metastasio : "Se Dio veder tu vuoi." "We 
know that this song had already caused this impress- 
ionable man of God to fall into an ecstasy. And now 
the same thing happened. The beautiful words Avhich 
he heard penetrated his heart like darts of love. The 
four verses had not yet been finished, when Gerard 
grew very thoughtful, then immovable, the while his 
eyes beamed like a seraph's. The girl finished the 
song, but the brother continued ecstatic for some time 
after. 

From this time the servant of God took a special in- 
terest in the child whose singing had made him think 
so much of God. Ere long he had occasion to evince 
his interest by rendering her the services of a paternal 
friend in the most wonderful manner. 

One day Gertrude went to confession. Whether her 
confession had not been sufficiently exact, or whether 
youthful levit} r had taken possession of her, she had 
not made her confession in such a manner as is requir- 
ed by the dignity of the sacrament. When she was 
about to receive Holy Communion, Gerard, no doubt 
enlightened from on high, met her and said in a very 
serious tone of voice : "My child, you think that you 
:are in a fit condition to receive Holy Communion? 
Alas ! you did not make a good confession. See the 
sin which you have neglected to tell ! Go back imnie- 



260 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

diately to the confessor, and make a general confession." 
The poor girl nearly died when she heard this; she 
could not utter a word; ashamed and confused, she 
hurried away to recollect herself. After a careful pre- 
paration, she made a general confession. 

Very soon, her former levity was changed into the 
opposite ; Gertrude became a prey to scruples, mental 
troubles, and lost all joy of heart. A deep melancholy 
took possession of her heretofore happy disposition, 
and no one could account for the change. Then again 
it was the servant of God who came to her assistance ; 
for when he had to pass through Foggia, he hastened 
to visit the convent in order to console the distressed 
girl. "My child," he said, "your confession was very 
good. God is quite satisfied with it." Nothing more 
was wanting. These words drove away all melancholy 
thoughts, and Gertrude was again happy and contented. 

The servant of God had more knowledge of the girl 
than she may have suspected, and when he allowed her 
to perceive it, Gertrude was incredulous. 

Although pious and educated in a convent she did 
not feel the least inclination to continue to live in it 
and to serve God in the solitude of the cloister. She 
thought of her return to her family, and could scarcely 
wait for the end of her stay in the institution. The 
servant of God who knew this impatience and this de- 
sire, told her repeatedly that she should not think of 
the world ; that she had been chosen to be a spouse of 
Christ, and must stay where she was. But Gertrude 
did not wish to hear this, and in spite of her high es- 
teem for the servant of God, his advice in this matter 
did not please her. Then Gerard allowed her to notice 
that in this point also he was not without supernatural 
knowledge, and that the counsel which he had given 
her was a call of God. He concluded with these earn- 
est words : "If you leave the convent, you will surely 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 201 

repent of the step ; in the world you will be exposed to 
the greatest danger; in the end, whether you will or 
not, you will have to come back here." The girl who 
was frightened by this threat, remained in the convent. 
She received the habit and everything went well with 
her. 

After her profession she was seized with an illness 
which, according to the advice of her physician, could 
only be cured by the air of her native place. Though 
her stay at San Severo, which was her home, may have 
been beneficial to her bodily health, it exerted a bane- 
ful influence upon her spiritual vigor. Surrounded by 
the vanities of the world, too little confirmed in the 
spiritual life, the poor nun was exposed to the greatest 
temptations. Her fidelity began to waver, and without 
any support, deceived by the persuasions of false friends, 
she grew tired of her holy vocation and resolved not 
to return to the convent. But after a short time, re- 
membering Gerard's prophecy, and the dreadful threat 
which it contained, she was overcome by the greatest 
sorrow for what she had done, shed bitter tears, and 
did immediately what was most expedient for her. She 
returned without delay to the convent and again enter- 
ed upon the service of God with renewed fervor. Dur- 
ing the rest of her life, — she died only towards the 
end of the year 1830 — she never ceased to extol the 
sanctity of the servant of God, whose miracles she did 
not only witness, but to whose influence she was in- 
debted for her vocation, and for saving it from ship- 
wreck. 

The servant of God rendered good services to the 
convent at Foggia ; those which the pious community 
of Carmelite nuns at Kipacandida received were more 
numerous. V He was more closely related to this con- 

!) The convent of the Carmelite nuns at Ripacandida was or- 
ganized in 1735, by the saintly Arch-priest John Baptist Rossi. 



262 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

vent because of the circumstance that the Carmelite 
nuns of Ripacandida were in more frequent communi- 
cation with the Fathers of his Congregation, who had 
many times labored among them. 

In the. year 1750, the holy Founder St. Alphonsus 
had personally given the retreat which the nuns made 
with such fervor that the saint was greatly aston- 
ished and said : "I would not have believed that I 
could find such beautiful flowers on this rock." (Non 
avrei mai creduto trovare un garofano, come questo, 
sopra una rape.) Instead of urging them onward, he 
had rather to check them, especially in regard to the 
immoderate fasts to which they were accustomed. 

Besides the holy Founder, there were other Redemp- 
torists who were occupied with the spiritual care of 
the convent at Ripacandida. especially Father Margotta, 
who manifested such great interest in this community, 
that he received from the bishop of Melfi the name of 
the "guardian angel of Ripacandida." Father Fiocchi 
was also a frequent spiritual adviser at this convent 
and, as has been said, directed two of the nuns for 
twenty years. 

The servant of God soon became well known to the 
religious of this convent. Even in the second year of 
his religious life he came in contact with them, as may 
be seen from his letter addressed to Sister Mary of 
Jesus, dated December 17th., 1751. 

Sister Mary of Jesus was at that time Prioress. She 
brought into Ripacandida a revival of the spirit of 
St. Teresa and of the virtues of the daughters of this 
saint, and was greatly pleased to find in Gerard a man 
who showed that he was quite capable of giving her 
great assistance in her labors. 

Like Mary Ccelestis Costarosa she had soon re- 
cognized the highly privileged servant of God who 
came to the convent with the Fathers. 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 263 

A short interview was sufficient to convince her of 
his powerful mind, and to fill her with esteem and con- 
fidence in him. The saintly brother, on the other hand, 
understood the relationship of sentiment, of aims, and 
of light which the Prioress of Eipacandida bore to him, 
and thus in a very short time there Avas formed bet- 
ween those two souls one of those noble, spiritual 
unions, of which we so often read in the lives of the 
saints, and which have mutual assistance as their object. 

As often as circumstances rendered allowed, the ser- 
vant of God came to Eipacandida, to visit the Superior 
of the Carmelites and to converse with her about those 
subjects in conformity with their holy desires and 
aspirations. "Then one could see," as Father Tannoja 
expresses himself, "two concave mirrors which reflect- 
ed on each other in full splendor, the rays of divine 
light which fell upon them." 

The esteem and. confidence which the Superior en- 
tertained towards the servant of God were soon com- 
municated to all her daughters, who also desired to 
have recourse to him in spiritual matters. Monsignor 
Basta had urged the saintly brother during his first 
long stay at Melfi to employ his gifts in favor of the 
nuns at Eipacandida. Gerard therefore took great in- 
terest in those daughters of St. Teresa, helped them 
when he could, urged them to advance in perfection, 
strengthened and consoled them by words as well as 
by letters. Father Cafaro said that no one could read 
these letters without being astonished, especially when 
considering that Gerard was an uneducated lay-brother, 
who had scarcely found an opportunity to acquire a 
perfect knowledge of reading and writing. 

Nothing escaped the vigilant eye of this extraordi- 
nary director of souls, and to his charity nothing ap- 
peared trifling that refered either to the spiritual or the 
temporal welfare of the convent. 



26-1 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

His chief aiid most ardent desire A\as, to make them 
all true spouses of Jesus Christ. "O my divine love?" he 
says in a letter addressed to Mary of Jesus, "be always 
in the hearts of these Thy beloved spouses ! . . . . Oh, 
how much do I desire that you and your very good 
Sisters should dwell in the pierced and open side of 
Jesus Christ and in the sorrowful heart of the Blessed 
Virgin ! It is there we can find all sweetness and rest." 
"My Sister," he writes to Sister Mary Baptista of 
the Holy Trinity, "let us conform to the divine will. 
The true love of God consists in entire submission to 
God and His holy will. Let us take care never volun- 
tarily to commit a fault ; such faults afford God the 
greatest displeasure." Gerard not only exhorted the 
Sisters to aim at perfection, but he assisted them with 
his prayers. 

"Believe me dear Sister, in Jesus Christ," he writes 
to the Superior, Sister Mary of Jesus, "I do not cease 
to pray to the Lord for you and your Avhole community, 
that it be His holy will to make you His true spouses. 
I say it in all truth, I think of you at every visit to the 
Sacred Heart. I rind you all enrolled in His most holy 
side." 

He looked upon the difficulties and sorrows of these 
pious souls as his own. "God knows the pain I feel," 
he writes in the aforesaid letter, "because you are in 
great distress ; but it is not exactly pain ; no, it is envy. 
Praised be the Lord Who keeps you on the high-road 
of sanctity!" 

To show that temporal matters did not escape him, 
especially if regarded as the certain preliminary con- 
dition of the spiritual, he found opportunity to enable 
competent young women to enter the convent. 

Not only did he himself frequently collect money 
for poor candidates so that the dowry might not be 
wanting, but if it was impossible for him to do this, he 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 265 

petitioned others to do it. It was above all to Iris in- 
fluential brethren that he applied in this respect. 

We often find him very attentive to the slight wishes 
of the nuns. Thus we read in a letter which he ad- 
dressed from Naples to a Sister at Ripacandida the 
following passage : "My dear Sister, I remember that 
you asked me for a little book with hymns. You ex- 
pressed this wish last year, but as it was not repeated, 
I did not comply with your request. I was waiting for 
a good opportunity. But as I am at Naples now, I am 
again mindful of it. I send you what you want. Sing 
the hymns in your cell, so that you may be a great 
saint, and always pray to the Lord for me. Your bro- 
thers send you greetings. They are all well." 

As a compensation for the charity and attention 
which Gerard devoted to the most important as Avell as 
the most trifling affairs of the convent at Ripacandida, 
he asked nothing except an occasional fervent prayer, 
that by sacrifice and prayer he might be supported in 
his great undertakings for the honor of God. 

While most humbly asking for such a favor he writes 
to Sister Mary of Jesus as follows : "The great kind- 
ness and many favors which you have shown me are 
a great consolation to me, but at the same time a source 
of humiliation and sorrow; for if I compare myself 
with these spouses of Jesus Christ, I find that I am full 
of unworthiness. I am compelled to accuse myself as 
guilty ; I must ask everywhere for mercy and humbly 
implore forgiveness for Christ's sake. I very much 
desire your prayers, as also those of your spiritual 
daughters that I may correct my faults. I firmly trust 
that these united prayers will enable me to fulfil most 
exactly the will of our common Father in heaven." 

His joy was unbounded when he was assured by the 
nuns that they would joyfully support him by sacrifice 



266 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

and prayer, and tliat they would offer up Holy Com- 
munion for his pious intention. 

"The promise," so he writes in tendering his thanks, 
"which you have made to receive Holy Communion for 
my intention, has filled me with unspeakable consola- 
tion ; but it also made me feel ashamed and confused. 
I was strongly reminded of the truly incomprehensible 
goodness of God Who makes even his dear spouses care 
for the salvation of one who has so often offended Him. 

excess of love ! O astonishing miracle! O love of the 
true Shepherd, Who with such tender care looks for 
the lost cheep ! Here I can say nothing else than that 
His love which is bestowed upon me, comes from our 
Redeemer ; it is the fruit of the blood of Christ, and of 
the sorrows of the Blessed Mother." 

To another nun of Ripacandida, Sister Baptista of 
the Blessed Trinity, he writes as follows: "My dear 
Sister, recommend me to God now more than ever, as 

1 am in the greatest distress. I can not forget you, be- 
cause your surname "of the Blessed Trinity" constant- 
ly reminds me of the Lord our God. How much I es- 
teem you, my dear Sister, 1 tecause you are so faithful a 
spouse of Jesus Christ, God only knows. Love God 
with your whole heart ; become a saint and suffer for 
Him only. All the sufferings which you have to endure 
for God, will convert even this earth into a real para- 
dise. (Yia su patite per Dio, eke le vostre pene vi ser- 
anno qui in terra un secondo paradiso)." 

Another petition, which Gerard addressed to Sister 
Teresa of Divine Love, is a follows : "My dear Sister 
in Christ, I am mindful of you because I believe that 
you will also be mindful of me by praying to God and 
loving Him for me. I tell you in all sincerity, you can 
help me ; for you are called 'of divine love,' and I am 
of opinion that you have become entirely changed into 
the love of the infinite being of God and into His most 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECEATED TO GOD. 267 

holy will. Oh, endeavor to become a saint, and that 
very soon!" 

In the postscript of a letter which he wrote to Sister 
Mary of Jesus, the servant of God speaks of his death 
and applies to the nuns for a pious remembrance 
of his departed soul. Just then a very zealous nun, 
named Sister Oliviera, had died. In connection with 
this death he presents his petition. He writes : "Al- 
though I am good for nothing, yet I offered up Holy 
Communion eight consecutive days for the repose of 
her soul ; and I intend to do the same for every one 
that dies, so that she may enter paradise. Tell this to 
all the nuns, in order that they may be inclined to do 
the same for me, when I have passed into eternity." 

The charity which the servant of God believed he 
could claim for himself, he also solicited in behalf of 
friends and others who were dear to him, and begged 
spiritual alms of the nuns for others as well as for him- 
self. Thus in a letter written to Sister Mary of Jesus, 
he recommends to her the soul of a person whom he 
had won for God and who had always made rapid pro- 
gress. 

In his joy at the success of their mutual efforts in 
behalf of this soul, he writes : "Our dear friend, Don 
Luigi, no longer finds any rest ; he has become foolish 
for Christ's sake. He has become entirely absorbed 
in God, and cannot separate himself from Christ. The 
world appears as nothing to him, and he regards creat- 
ures only as existing in God. He loves Him, and it is 
his sole endeavor. More than this I cannot say." 

To the same Sister he recommends on another occas- 
ion a sick nun in the convent at Fosfaria, whose loss he 

BO ' 

would sorely feel. "I wish," he writes, "that you would 
use your influence with the Lord, in favor of a Sister 
who is at the point of death. Alas ! her death is alto- 
gether undesirable; tell this to Almighty God. There- 



268 AP0ST0LATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

fore besiege the omnipotence of God Avith prayer that 
our request may be granted. I command you in the 
name of God, do not let her die, and I desire that you 
begin a novena in honor of the Divine Power to obtain 
for this nun the restoration of her health." The novena 
was held in compliance with his urgent request, and 
the sick nun recovered. 

The reputation and influence which the servant of 
God enjoyed in the convent at Bipacandida constantly 
gained ground. His appearance there was hailed by 
all like the advent of an angel, and completed the im- 
pression which his letters, so full of charity and tender 
solicitude, had produced. His mortified exterior, his 
devotion in prayer, his modesty, his humility, all this 
was well adapted to edify, to stimulate in the highest 
degree, and to inspire confidence and veneration. 

Besides, the servant of God was also known in the 
little convent at Bipacandida as a Avorker of miracles, 
and as a man who had received most extraordinary 
graces. 

Twice — to our knowledge, — the Lord glorified his 
servant by permitting him to fall into an ecstasy while 
he Avas speaking to the nuns in the parlor. 

One day he Avas engaged at the grate in a conversa- 
tion with the Superior, Avhen he Avas seized Avith so holy 
a joy and such happy emotions, that he feared he would 
not be able to resist them. He grasped the grate Avith 
his hands that be might not be carried aloft. Yet so 
strong Avas the poAver of his emotions, that the iron 
bars by Avhich Gerard held himself, gave away, and Avere 
bent in his hands as if they Avere Avax. When the Sup- 
erior saAV this, she called aloud to make him aAvare of 
the damage, which he Avas causing. The loud voice 
brought him to himself, as if it Avere from a deep slum- 
ber, and AA-hen he perceived what had happened, he 
was greatly confused and in his simplicity begged that 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 2G9 

the injured grate might be quickly repaired. Sister 
Mary of Jesus had, it is true, the grate fastened and 
repaired in accordance with Gerard's wishes, but a 
few bars were allowed to remain bent as they had been 
by the ecstasy of the servant of God, to commemorate 
the event. Even in the year 1853, when on account of 
the process of beatification, an investigation was made 
at Bipacandida, the bent iron bars in the parlor were 
yet to be seen. 

On another occasion, Gerard had assembled all the 
nuns before the grate, in order to give them a short 
conference. "To-day," lie said, "I will lead you into 
the wine-cellar of divine love." Then he spoke of the 
infinite prerogatives of Jesus Christ. While speaking, 
he felt the power of divine love and in presence of all 
the nuns fell into an ecstasy during which the parlor 
was illuminated as if it were in flames. 

Gerard's knowledge of the future was displayed in 
such a manner as to increase the confidence reposed in 
him by the Carmelite nuns. Having one day gone to 
the convent, he heard that a sister was ill, and that all 
were anxious about her recovery. After a short pause 
which the servant of God passed in recollection, he 
confidently asserted that the illness of this sister would 
not prove fatal. But the nuns replied that the Sister 
was already in her agony, so that they did not feel in- 
clined to believe him. "But you will see," said Gerard, 
"that what I have said is true ; the sick Sister must 
continue to live, for she must still take many a step 
towards perfection." His prediction was fulfilled ; the 
nun became well, and her subsequent life was even 
more virtuous than the past had been. 

Monsignor Basta, the admirer and friend of the holy 
brother, was the bishop to whose jurisdiction the con- 
vent at Bipacandida was subject, and whom the nuns 
nad to obey as their highest Superior. Whether he 



270 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

wished to test tlieir obedience or to prevent abuses, he 
one day forbade all correspondence in regard to mat- 
ters of conscience. As lie intimated no exception to 
this rule, the correspondence with the servant of God 
had also to cease. 

For weak souls, even a just prohibition becomes a 
stumbling-block ; how much more that which is unrea- 
sonable, or for which there is no cause! Thus it hap- 
pened that many good nuns were displeased with this 
prohibition, and began to murmur. 

Intelligence of these complaints, their murmurings 
and their sadness, soon reached the ears of the servant 
of God. An ecclesiastic whose sympathy the Prioress 
had gained, became the informer and narrator of the 
distress that reigned in the convent at Ripacandida on 
account of the bishop's prohibition. Not the prohib- 
ition, but the distress of the nuns was a source of sor- 
row to Gerard. 

To the Superior of the Carmelites he wrote the fol- 
lowing letter : 

"My dear Mother : If Monsignor has forbidden you 
to write, it is well ; it is the will of God ; and I rejoice 
very much that hereby many dangers have been remov- 
ed. This is a sign that he loves you very much and 
that he wishes you to be closely united with God. Be 
of good cheer ; take courage ! These things should not 
cause you any trouble. They should rather awaken in 
you a joyful frame of mind. When there is question 
about doing the will of God, everything else must yield. 
You, my dear Mother, know this better than I, or any 
one else. What do you wish me to say ? I have al- 
ready told you, and will tell you in all confidence, 
though you could instruct me yourself in regard to this 
matter. I cannot understand how a soul perfectly de- 
dicated to God can find any bitterness in this world, 
and how she can feel anything but joy in the fact that 



APOKTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 271 

God's will is accomplished in all things. The will of 
God is indeed the only support of our souls. Cursed 
be self-love which deprives us of so great a treasure, of 
paradise on earth, yes, of God Himself! O how 
wretched is human folly that permits us to neglect such 
great advantages ! How can we better please God than 
to fulfil in all things and at all times His holy will ; to 
do all that He wishes and when He wishes it ; so that 
we may accomplish it perfectly ? 

"Let us therefore be totally indifferent in regard to 
all things, in order that we may be able to carry out 
the divine will with that highest purity of intention 
which God asks of us. 

"What a great good is the will of God ! O what a 
hidden and inconceivable treasure! O will of God! 
thou art worth as much as my God Himself ; who can 
understand thee except God? 

"I assure you, my dear Mother, it affords me great 
consolation to know that you are one of those souls 
who seek their only comfort in the most adorable will 
of my God. Your heroism in this point is well known 
to me. Oh ! continue in your efforts to become united 
with God by a perfect transformation. What are the 
angels in heaven doing but the will of God ? Now what 
the angels are doing in heaven, that we should do on 
earth. Yes, let God's will reign on earth! Let para- 
dise be in heaven, and let paradise also be on earth. 

"Permit all your daughters to read these few lines. 
I am of opinion that Monsignor's prohibition to write 
to me extends not only to yourself but to all the Sisters. 
He was right ; and I sincerely hope that no one may 
be sad on this account, for this would be complaining 
of God. Let God's holy will be always done ! And I 
declare to you that I am quite satisfied that you no 
longer write to me ; this I say to all the Sisters. And 
if there should be the least shadow of disobedience in 



272 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

their sending me their regards, for the love of God 
avoid doing so. I am satisfied ; it is enough for me if 
you recommend me to the Lord in your prayers. 

"This therefore is my wish. Besides, I know very 
well the excellent intentions of this holy prelate who 
wishes that all should be closely united with Jesus 
Christ. If my Superior should send me to Eipacan- 
dida for any reason, I shall refrain from asking per- 
mission to speak to you. It is not necessary that we 
see each other here below, since we shall see each other 
in paradise. While we are in this world, let us sanc- 
tify ourselves according to the will of others, not ac- 
cording to our own will, for the former is the will of 
God." 

That this letter, which was inspired by faith and 
true religious spirit, acted as balm upon a wound, 
quieted all mental disturbances and cheered and con- 
soled the nuns at Eipacandida, is easih' understood. 
All were ready to make the sacrifice. 

But on this occasion the Lord was satisfied, as He 
often is, with the good will and required no more than 
unconditional and calm submission. After Monsignor 
Basta had tested the obedience of the nuns, he repeal- 
ed the prohibition in regard to the servant of God, and 
even expressed to the nuns the pleasure he would feel, 
if they would seek counsel and help from the religious, 
who understood their spirit so well. That the bishop 
did not aim at the brother by this strict prohibition is 
proved by the circumstance that not long afterwards, 
on the occasion of an investigation which he undertook 
in regard to the extraordinary life and spirit of Sister 
Mary of Jesus, he desired not only Father Fiocchi's 
but also Brother Gerard's company and advice. 

Though this salutary connection of the servant of 
God with the religious community at Ripacandida had 
begun in consequence of his closer union with its emi- 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 273 

nently spiritual head, Sister Mary of Jesus, it did not 
cease, when two years after Gerard had become ac- 
quainted there, May 1752, a new Superior, Sister Mary 
Michela of St. Francis succeeded his friend. 

This Sister realized what support was given by Ger- 
ard to zeal, charity and the monastic life ; instead there- 
fore of withdrawing herself from his influence, she was 
rather inclined to strengthen the old, happy understand- 
ing, with him. 

Gerard, who in rendering services, did not consider 
the persons, joyfully responded to this manifestation of 
confidence and was also very soon one heart and one 
mind with the new Prioress. 

- Scarcely had he been informed by the former Super- 
ior that Sister Michela had been chosen Superior, when 
he expressed to the latter his satisfaction at her ap- 
pointment; he desired her, as he was in the habit of 
doing, to become a saint, and promised that he would 
write to her in a short time, "for," said he, "such is 
the will of God." 

A few weeks afterwards she actually received the 
first letter from him. In it he again expresses the joy 
which he felt on account of her appointment. He then 
says : "I shall ask our Lord to sustain you, in order 
that you may discharge the duties of your office in a 
proper manner, and watch more carefully over the 
many spouses of Jesus Christ. I hope that His divine 
Majesty my give you the spirit which that seraph of 
love, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi possessed, who was 
so great a servant and lover of the Lord, and of the 

Blessed Virgin so that you and your daughters 

may also become seraphs of the love of God." This 
noble desire is followed by the earnest request that he 
may frequently be remembered in her prayers. Moved 
with tender care for the former Superior — the vener- 
able Sister Mary of Jesus — Gerard concludes with 



274 APOSTOLATE AMONG VIRGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 

the following words: "I beg you to have regard for 
Sister Mary of Jesus. You know that she has been your 
Mother from the beginning, and has nourished you with 
the milk of the love of God." 

Though this recommendation may have been super- 
fluous, the servant of God wished to give it, chiefly 
to throw out to the new Superior a gentle hint which 
she should not disregard, and perhaps in order to give 
expression to the promise which he had made a few 
days before to the former Prioress. The latter, with 
the humility peculiar to the saints, who usually see 
nothing commendable in themselves, had expressed to 
the saintly brother her apprehension that when she 
would cease to be at the head of the community, all, 
even the servant of God, would forget her, and thus 
deprive her of a great help ; she hoped, however, that 
he would not refuse to visit her. Gerard answered : 
"You say that I should visit you , yes, my dear Mother, 
I shall come to console you with my whole heart, when- 
ever it is the will of God. Be not disheartened, and 
be without sadness if you do not wish to make me sad. 
You tell me that now when you are no longer Superior, 
all will forget you. As for myself, I assure you I have 
not forgotten you. I desire that you should also re- 
member me. Well then, magnanimously love God, 
and you will become a saint. Since you are not now 
so much occupied, you will have more time for this 
purpose. Pray earnestly for me, who need so much spi- 
ritual help and who — God knows — am so sad and 
without consolation. If you wish, you can do very 
much for me by your prayers to God ; render me this 
act of charity." 

Thus did the relation which Gerard bore to the con- 
vent at Ripacandida remain unchanged under the new 
Superior ; and he continued the spiritual adviser and 
extraordinary director of the nuns till the end of his 



APOSTOLATE AMONG VIKGINS CONSECRATED TO GOD. 275 

life. The reader may learn the excellence of his guid- 
ance from the following chapter in which we have re- 
corded a few extracts of his instructions and sentiments, 
gleaned from some of his letters. 

The holy relation of Gerard to the nuns at Ripacan- 
dida continued till the end of his life, and bore abun- 
dant fruit. 

Even after the death of the saintly brother, these re- 
ligious looked upon him as a protector and friend, in- 
voked him and paid him the most childlike respect and 
veneration. "Oh, how many novenas" — thus one of 
them expresses herself in the process of beatification 
— "did we make in his honor! We all have chosen 
him to be our special patron, and we still recommend 
ourselves to his intercession, in order to obtain every 
necessary grace. He, on his part, condescends to grant 
us assistance from heaven. A young man whose life 
was despaired of, is indebted for its preservation to the 
prayers with which we invoked the saintly brother." 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Spiritual Counsels. 



Soon after the election of a new Prioress in Kipacan- 
clida, Gerard found occasion to explain through a series 
of letters, the duties of a Superior. Only a few of these 
letters have been preserved. 

Sister Mary Michela applied to Gerard, requesting 
him to give her some instruction in regard to her 
position as Prioress, and to furnish her with a spirit- 
ual guide or compass. The servant of God did not 
refuse to comply with this humble request, andwrote 
a treatise on the duties of the Superior of a religious 
community, which we will quote. 

"My dear Mother: 

"Pardon me for the sake of Jesus Christ and the 
Blessed Virgin Mary for not having immediately ren- 
dered the service asked of me. My habitual sloth was 
the cause of my tardiness in sending yoxi the rule. 
God's will be done ! You will also forgive me for writ- 
ing you in great haste. 

"As the Prioress takes the place of God Himself, she 
must fulfil the duties of her office with the greatest 
exactness, if she wishes to please the Almighty, Who 
has selected her to fill His place. She needs perfect 
prudence, always acting according to the dictates of 
the spirit of God. She should be endowed with the 
noblest virtues, give the best example, so that her 
daughters may have no cause to find fault with her. 
Her heart should be a pure vessel filled with the balm 
of virtues; these virtues should be communicated to 
her daughters, so that like their Mother they may ad- 
vance in perfection. 



SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 277 

"The Superior should never lose sight of her own 
unworthiness, and should always remember that of 
herself she is able to accomplish only what is evil. She 
owes the honor and dignity of her office entirely to 
God : for there are many others who would fill it just 
as well, and better for the greater glory of God. In 
view of her imperfections, she should always humble 
herself and have compassion on those who commit 
faults. She should fulfil the duties of her office in the 
spirit of love, and not shrink from it as from a burden. 
In consideration that God has destined this office for 
her from all eternity, she must feel the necessity of per- 
forming its duties with angelic perfection, and must 
adhere closely to the divine will, but remain at her post 
with entire indifference, and without any attachment. 

"In doubtful matters, and when she cannot decide 
herself she should have recourse to one who is enligh- 
tened by God. But after having once determined what 
course to pursue, she should have God's glory alone 
in view, and without human respect carry out what she 
has resolved to do, even if she should have to shed 
her blood and loose her life ; for there is question of 
doing the Lord's work. 

"She should always remember that she is the Super- 
ior, and frequently say to herself: 'God wills that I 
should fill this post, and therefore I must do His will 
in all things, and watch over all the souls confided to 
my charge. It is my duty to serve all, to counsel all, 
to be the Mother of all, to console all, and to give 
satisfaction to all. I must give the best of everything 
to others, and keep the worst for myself, in order that 
I may please God. Finally, I must suffer something 
everywhere, that I may rejoice in following the exam- 
ple of my beloved and divine Spouse, Jesus Christ.' 

"The thoughts of the Superior should be like a wheel 
continually in motion, without intermission revolving 



278 SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 

around the wants of her daughters. Her daughters 
she must love in God, with a pure love without distinc- 
tion of person. Considering rightly that they can pro- 
cure only by obedience what they need, she should for- 
get herself and bestow all her thoughts and care on 
them. If eatables, clothes or other things be present- 
ed to the convent, she should take nothing therefrom 
till she has supplied others. 

"She should endeavor to inspire confidence, especial- 
ly if she notices that there is a want of it in some of 
her daughters. In this case she should summon all 
her strength and prudence to gain their affection. Even 
though she should not feel inclined to do so, she should 
show them kindness, and for the love of God do vio- 
lence to herself. If she does not do this, if she does 
not exhibit the tenderness of a mother, the distress 
and discouragement of her subjects will increase. Even 
though this may not happen, the subjects will not ad- 
vance in the love of God, because there is a thorn in 
the heart that gives them constant pain. Women are 
very prone to discouragement. 

"A Superior requires firmness and gentleness. As 
the representative of God, she must know how to exact 
obedience and to punish, but with prudence. The re- 
proof must be given Avith meekness and sweetness. If 
this is done, peace and happiness will be restored to the 
soul. A correction mightfor instance, by given in the 
following manner : 'My daughter, you do not seem to 
understand that your bad example is a source of scandal 
to many holy souls. It might have been better had you 
remained in the world, and had not come to this place, 
which another might now occupy to the edification of alL 
I tell you this, and I must tell you, because, I am your 
Mother! God knows how devoted I am to you, and 
how much I desire your sanctity. I beg you my daugh- 
ter, resolve to become a saint, and promise the Lord 



SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 279 

that you will lay aside your imperfections. Do all 
that I have said, and if you think that I can do any- 
thing more for you, call upon me with childlike con- 
fidence.' 

"If the reproof is given in this way, then, I believe, 
the daughter will not avoid the Mother, and while the 
latter shows confidence in the daughter, she will be 
able to induce her to resolve to walk in the path of 
perfection. One gains more by mildness, than by 
severity. Severity creates confusion, temptation, dark- 
ness and indolence. Mildness, on the contrary, awakens 
peace and rest, and encourages the Sisters to love God. 
If all Superiors would act in this maimer, all their sub- 
jects would become saints; the disorder and distur- 
bance noticeable in convents arise from a want of pru- 
dence. Where there is confusion, there is the devil, 
and where the devil is, God is not." 

Here, most unfortunately, this excellent instruction 
is broken off. What prudence, what moderation, Avhat 
knowledge of the human heart in this simple rule ! One 
almost believes that he is listening to a venerable, ex- 
perienced, priestly ascetic, and not to a simple young 
lay-brother. One is reminded of St. Jane Frances de 
Chantal, who in the attractive maimer which she has 
learnt from her spiritual Father, instructs a Superior 
as follows : "Your office my dear daughter, is the office 

of a Mother of a family Your solicitude should 

be assiduous, yet gentle. Make your daughters jrious 
so far as lies in your power ; their welfare depends on 
this; for if they find pleasure in being familar with 
God, they will become reserved and mortified. Do not 
be like those tender mothers who are afraid to punish 
their children, nor either like those passionate mothers 
who are always screaming." 

In another letter, the servant of God describes the 
dignity of the vocation of a Superior as follows : I wish 



280 SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 

I could see yon like a seraph, filled with, the love of 
God, that when your daughters look at you, they may 
be enkindled with the same love." 

According to the views of Brother Gerard, the hap- 
piness of a true spouse of Christ is inexpressible ; happy 
is she who has received such a vocation and who faith- 
fully lives according to it ; on the contrary, unspeak- 
ably unfortunate is she who has received this vocation, 
but abandons it and prefers the world. 

The servant of God found a special occasion to ex- 
press thoughts on this subject, when he was one day 
informed that at Ripacandida there was a novice who 
had the greatest temptation to give up the work of 
sanctification, and to return to the ordinary life of the 
world. "With a holy zeal he wrote to the novice the 
following long letter : 

"My dear Sister in Jesus Christ : I say to you in the 
name of God, 'remain in a deep holy peace.' This 
whole storm is nothing else than the work of the evil 
spirit, who wishes to drive you away from this holy 
place. My child, be careful, for the cunning deceiver 
who is inflamed with envy is laying snares ; he is dis- 
pleased to find you here, for he would like to prevent 
you from becoming a saint. We all have to endure 
temptations in regard to our vocation, and God permits 
these to test our fidelity. Only be cheerful and give 
yourself up entirely to God; He will then aid you. 
And how is it possible that you can forget the beau- 
tiful resolutions which you have so often made, to belong 
entirely to God, and to become a true spouse of Jesus 
Christ? If formerly you desired so much to deserve 
this honorable title, why do you wish to be rid of it 
now ? 

"O my dear Sister, who, except God, can grant you 
peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the 
heart ? Has it ever been able to satisfy the heart of 



SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 281 

Neither tradition 
nor history record such a thing. What we know of the 
world is, that it knows how to sow thorns and thistles 
in the heart of its followers, and that the more its 
children give themselves up to the pursuit of wealth, 
honors and pleasures, so much in proportion are they 
inwardly tormented and annoyed. Indeed I wish I 
could permit you to speak to a child of the world, so 
that you might find out how those things are in reality, 
which now appear so brilliant and attractive. But, 
believe me who have had experience in this matter. Life 
in the world is a sad affair. May God preserve you 
from it ! 

"God has the best intentions on you; therefore He 
has permitted the temptation to try you. Have cour- 
age. Drive away all temptations by generously renew- 
ing the intention to be a spouse of Christ! In it we 
find happiness, peace, tranquillity, every good. Alas! 
what are the transitory goods of the world in compari- 
son with that heavenly and eternal felicity which is 
enjoyed in heaven by a soul that has been dedicated 
to the service of Christ! I do not say that she who 
lives in the world cannot save her soul, but I assert 
that in the world one is constantly exposed to the dan- 
ger of being lost, and that in the world one cannot 
become holy as easily as in the convent. 

"Consider, I beg you, the flight of time, the length 
of eternity, and reflect how transitory is everything here 
below. At the close of one's life, everything in the 
world is for us at an end, as if it had never been. Of 
what use is it to lean upon that which cannot give 
support? Indeed, all things that do not lead to God 
are vanities, which are not available for eternity. Un- 
happy the soul that confides in the world, and not in 
God! 

"I entreat you, my dear Sister, go for a short while 



282 SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 

to the vault in which rest the remains of so many nuns 
who died in your convent, and there consider what all 
these would have gained if they had been most estim- 
able ladies in the world. Oh! how much it has profit- 
ed them to have lived poor, mortified, despised and 
secluded lives in this little convent ! Perhaps they had 
to suffer much, but what peace did they not experience 
at the hour of death, when they knew that they were 
dying in the house of God ! At the hour of death every 
one wishes to be a saint ; but at that supreme moment, 
only what Ave have done for God is of any consequence. 

"Should the storm in your heart not yet be over, than 
have the greatest confidence and unshaken hope in the 
Most Blessed Trinity and in my Mother Mary, that 
you will yet become a saint in your convent. But, do 
what you can, so that I may not be disappointed. Crush 
the head of the monster who is trying to drive you out 
of this holy place. Despise him ; tell him that you are 
the spouse of Jesus Christ, in order that he may tremble. 
Be of good cheer; love God with your whole heart; 
devote yourelf entirely to Him without the least re- 
serve, and see that the demon may be crushed and die 
with disappointment! Pray for me, as I always pray 
for you." 

These impressive, paternal words, had the desired 
effect. The girl to whom they were addressed happily 
survived all disturbing thoughts and temptations and 
after having courageously conquered the evil spirit sh 3 
began to make great strides in the path of perfection. 
Great was Gerard's joy when, after some time, he re- 
ceived the information that the novice had taken the 
vows ; that she was happy and contented in her voca- 
tion. He was at that time at Naples, whence he wrote 
the following lines to her : 

"Dear Sister in Chiist Jesus : Your esteemed letter 
gave me the greatest consolation and pleasure, for it 



SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 283 

informed me that with God's grace you have made your 
profession. May God and you yourself be praised! 
Now that you have had the grace to dedicate yourself 
to God by means of the vows, you have been raised 
higher than ever before, since now you are a perfect 
spouse of the Lord. You will be happy, if in contin- 
ued reflections on the greatness of your vocation, you 
humble yourself before the Lord and endeavor to ac- 
quire the perfection which your sublime state demands 
of you. Open your eyes and see the graces which have 
been bestowed upon you, and be thankful every day 
to the divine goodness. Well then, become a great 
saint! You have the best opportunity to become a 
saint. Pray for me always, and tell Almighty God that 
He should also make me a saint." 

The true spouse of Christ must walk the path of per- 
fection by faith which eventually leads to God. 

"In order to love God," writes Gerard to the Prioress 
at Bipacandida, "one must believe, for he who is weak 
in faith, is weak in clinging to God (chi manca di fede, 
manca a Dio.) As for myself I am resolved to live and 
die, penetrated with faith. Faith is life to me, and 
life is faith to me. O God ! who would live without 
holy faith ? I would wish always to cry out, and to 
ery out so that the whole world should hear me : May 
our holy faith live! God alone deserves to be loved." 

This life of faith, according to the view of the ser- 
vant of God, must not be satisfied with any degree of 
advancement however considerable. The highest point 
of perfection should be aimed at by an uninterrupted 
increase of virtue. In a letter in which he mentions 
the death of Sister Oliviera, he speaks of this duty. 
He desires that her successor in office should be equal 
to the fervor and virtues of the deceased nun, because 
those who do not wish to use their great gifts gener- 
ously will have to give a severe account on judgment-day. 



284 SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 

"I had already heard," lie says, "of the death of Sis- 
ter Oliviera ; I hear that Sister Maria Antonia has 
taken her place. Tell her from me that I have heard 
this with great pleasure. In order to complete my joy, 
she should now cany out the holy resolutions which 
she made when in the world, and let her be a saint as 
Sister Oliviera was ; for if she does not become a saint, 
then truly God will call her to a severe account." 

Storms, temptations, anxieties are, however, the com- 
panions of souls that are resolved to walk in the path 
of perfection. Nevertheless, they should not be dis- 
couraged. After all, these things are not the worst. On 
the contrary, even peace, quiet, freedom from the de- 
vil's assaults, should be regarded suspiciously, since 
snares are often concealed in them. 

"Be courageous," he writes to a Sister who is troub- 
led in mind, "do not be cast down ; trust in God and 
hope that He will grant you every grace. Do not rely 
on yourself, but rather on the Lord, and if you imagine 
that all is calm, then be assured that the enemy is quite 
near. Do not put too much confidence in peace, for in 
the midst of rest war may break out. Live carefully, 
always recommending yourself to the Blessed Virgin, 
and putting all }-our trust in her, that she may keep 
away the enemy with her powerful hand. What you 
suffer should not make you dejected; it should only 
humble you before God, and stimulate you to greater 
confidence in His mercy. To brood over your troubles 
will do no good ; this comes from the devil, who wishes 
to rob you of your time. Do not let your courage 
falter ; confide in God, He will help you to become a 
saint." 

These emphatic and gentle exhortations, these solid 
principles and effective arguments of divine love were 
the ordinary food with which the servant of God was 
always anxious to nourish the soul of these spouses of 



SPIRITUAL COUNSELS. 285 

Christ. For them it was certainly a delicious food. 
He was moderate in liis requirements, and possessed 
the power of convincing in so eminent a degree that 
Gerard's influence over the good nuns was extremely 
salutary and contributed powerfully to make the spirit 
of St. Teresa grow and flourish. 

The efficacy of Gerard's labors in the convent of 
Kipacandida became better known during a trial which 
they could not have survived, had it not resulted from 
the purest motives of faith. 

The Prioress, and her daughters were convinced of 
the advantage they derived from their intercourse with 
Gerard. 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

Stormy Days. 



The year 1753 had procured for the servant of God 
an abundance of glory and honor ; the following year 
proved him worthy of such esteem and veneration 
among men, and that he was not metal of an inferior 
quality having only exterior glitter. 

Divine Providence wished that during this year a 
trial should befall him which is seldom wanting to great 
saints. 

During the Easter holidays the storm was to over- 
take him. Gerard was at Atella during Lent, attending 
to the business of the Congregation in his usual man- 
ner. Here he made the acquaintance of Canon Camil- 
las Bozzio, a prominent man of Caposele and a zeal- 
ous priest, who was preaching the Lenten sermons in 
this place. 

The first meeting of Gerard with Bozzio was one of 
the most pleasant episodes of this year. "We must not 
omit to relate it in the Canon's own words: 

"I have had occasion," lie wiites, "to converse very 
familiarly with Father Cafaro of saintly memory, about 
Brother Gerard. He spoke to me of the ability and 
sanctity of this brother, who was a penitent of his. 
I had the happiness of meeting the man of God at 
Atella, in the year 1754, whither he had come to attend 
to some business concerning the Congregation, and 
while I was engaged to preach the Lenten sermons. . . . 
From this time forward there existed between us a close 
friendship, which, springing from supernatural motives, 
was founded on the love of Christ." 



ST011MY DAYS. 2S7 

This friendship, however, was not formed in conse- 
quence of a transient, favorable impression, which the 
good brother had made, but was the result of a severer 
test to Avhich the Canon one da}^ subjected his virtue. 
"I saAV Gerard," thus relates Bozzio, "standing one 
day in the sacristy of the church, surrounded by several 
priests, engaged in conversing on holy subjects. I ap- 
proached and began to excite him with words which 
betokened very little respect for him. 'What are you 
talking about? You are, after all, only an ignorant 
lay-brother, and are playing theologian. Indeed! I do 
not understand why these gentlemen lose their time, 
listening to you ; they deceive themselves in having an 
elated opinion of you ; I — I look upon you as a vain 
man; I regard you as a hypocrite and nothing else!' 

"This language unexpected, unmerited and abusive, 
did not, however, disconcert the habitual cheerfulness 
and equanimity of the good brother. He smiled mod- 
estly, embraced me, and in this way proved his entire 
satisfaction with my strange behavior. 'You are right,' 
he said, 'I am a poor, ignorant man, and it is necessary 
that you should pray to God to have mercy on me. 
I beg you to forgive me !' " 

Though this incident was sufficient to make Bozzio 
feel inclined to regard the servant of God as a saint, 
he found other opportunities to discover in him marks 
of most extraordinary sanctity. 

Thus, one day he entered the room of Gerard unex- 
pectedly. Like himself, the brother was living in the 
house of a man named Grazioli, who was a Mend of 
the Congregation and the father of the two girls whom 
Gerard sent to the little convent at Bipacandida. On 
opening the door, he found the pious religious rapt in 
deep ecstasy, and saw him, to his greatest astonish- 
ment, raised in the air. 

"On another day," continued Bozzio, "I remarket 



288 STOKMY DAYS. 

that his soul was agitated by most extraordinary emot- 
ions. I asked whether he had not received Holy Com- 
munion that morning, and he acknowledged that he had 
not done so ; he felt something troubling his conscience. 
This trouble was of course only an effect of his humi- 
lity. In the afternoon he called to see me in my room 
at the appointed time, and I could immediately per- 
ceive that the desire for Holy Communion was continu- 
ally creating in his soul the most intense longing for 
the Most Blessed Sacrament. He himself endeavored 
to distract his mind and turn his heart away from the 
great desire with which it was tilled. For this purpose 
we left the house to take a walk through the meadows, 
and sang some verses of the Lamentations of the pro- 
phet Jeremias ; but all to no purpose. I then conduct- 
ed him to the principal parish church. Having locked 
the door, Ave sang, accompanied by the organ, which 
he played pretty well, the hymn, that 1 >egins with these 
words: 'Fiori felici, voi die notte e giorno.' ('Ye 
Flowers ! which day and night watch with dear Jesus, 
how I envy you!') V 

"My voice was cold; but his expressed a heart that 
was wounded with love for Jesus. He would have no 
one notice the fear and longing which filled it." 

\Vhile Bozzio was learning to know Gerard better at 
Atella, and was convinced of his solid virtue and sanc- 
tity, a storm was gathering over the man of God. Holy 
Week was one of peace for him. It was his custom to 
retire into solitude during these days to meditate upon 
the sufferings of the Ptedeemer, and to do penance ; 
frequently he fell into ecstasies. During this year he 
visited the chapel of the nuns at Foggia, as indeed he 



11 One of the simplest and most beautiful hymns which 
St. Alphonsus composed. It is a tender apostrophe to the 
flowers which are destined to adorn the altar on which is kept 
the Most Blessed Sacrament. 



STORMY DAYS. 289 

had done in former years, where the Lord had several 
times filled him with His light, he remained within the 
precincts of this sanctuary a part of Holy Week. While 
he was thereby edifying all by his piety, he gathered 
for himself that supernatural strength of which he was 
subsequently to stand in need. His intercourse with 
his divine Saviour seems at this time to have been 
more intimate than usual, and his soul tasted new joys. 
For Gerard, who was usually silent about his interior 
favors, allowed a few words regarding this matter to 
escape him in a letter: "This day," he says, "has been 
of infinite consolation to my soul." 

Did this excess of spiritual consolation intimate the 
b>itter moments which were approaching? Did he con- 
clude that a heavy cross was impending? For it is 
well known to all that are in any way familiar with the 
spiritual life, that similar sweetnesses are the forerun- 
ners of trials and sufferings, and that such a dawn usu- 
ally announces a stormy day. It is certain that Ger- 
ard was not unprepared when the hour of severe trial 
came, and that the evil spirit could not assail him un- 
suspecting and unarmed. 

The instrument which the evil one resorted to in 
order to cause the servant of God pain, temptation and 
shame, and to cripple his efficiency in behalf of souls 
Was a certain Neria Caggiano. V The servant of God 
had, at the expense of much, care and trouble, broiight 
this girl to the conservatory at Foggia, from which, 
however, Neria after a short time again returned to the 
world. To justify her inconstancy, Neria reported var- 
ious calumnies concering the nuns at Foggia. Finally 



!) According to Father Cajone's account. Father Tannoja, 
whose report we took in the first edition, tells the event differ- 
ently. But as Father Cajone wrote his account by order of 
St. Alphonsus and according to close investigation, his report 
seems to deserve the preference. 



290 STORMY DAYS. 

urged by the father of lies, >she ventured to direct her 
poisonous tongue against the servant of God. She soon 
found matter for accusation. ~SVe have already stated 
that whenever Gerard came to Lacedogna he stayed 
with his intimate friend Constantine Capucci ; thus, we 
find him there in the beginning of 1754. This gentle- 
man had four daughters, two of whom had been influ- 
enced by Gerard to enter the Conservatory at Foggia. 
One of these two was Nicoletta. Nobody seemed less 
likely to be the subject of so vile a calumny than Nico- 
letta who was reputed a most honorable and pious girl. 
Nevertheless, the slanderous tongue of Neria reported 
the innocent girl as being the unfortunate victim of the 
servant of God's seduction. Under the circumstances 
it was easy to clothe the basest lie under the disguise 
of truth, and thus Neria succeeded in spreading the re- 
port. She even convinced her confessor, the honorable 
Don Benigno Bonaventura, of the truth of her accusat- 
ion against the servant of God. As Don Benigno high- 
ly revered St. Alphonsus and his Congregation, he was 
much concerned about informing Gerard's Superior of 
the event, as soon as possible, that the hypocrisy of the 
brother might not undermine the entire Congregation. 
He therefore not only commanded Neria to communi- 
cate the occurrence to the holy Founder, but it seems 
he himself wrote to St. Alphonsus about it. What a 
painful impression the calumnious letter of Neria and 
that of her confessor made upon the holy Founder, can 
easily be imagined. It is true, the charge in itself 
would strike one as incredible, but the evidence that 
was forwarded seemed so strong and convincing at the 
time, that it completely concealed the shameless false- 
hood. Besides, Don Benigno was a man Avhose un- 
feigned virtue claimed credibility, so that St. Alphon- 
sus entertained the greatest respect for him. 

That the saint, however, did not accept the cunning 



STORMY DAYS. 291 

accusation of the calumniator as truth, can in no man- 
ner be contested, and that he did not regard it as clear 
evidence, is not to be doubted. Had he felt really 
convinced of the guilt of the brother, he would 
have dismissed him without mercy from the Congrega- 
tion. It is certain that he did not pass an unqualified 
judgment as to the guilt of the saintly brother. But to 
which side did his doubt incline ? Was he inclined to 
believe him guilty, or innocent ? Did he not, perhaps, 
fear that the servant of God was really guilty of the 
■crime of which he was accused, that he was to be rank- 
ed among those souls who succumb to a terrible delus- 
ion of Satan after they have arrived at a high degree 
of sanctity, and that he had at least committed an un- 
pardonable indiscretion and had occasioned scandal, 
which gave rise to the accusation, and was in part evi- 
dence to be studied ? It was difficult to decide, since 
at the one hand the saint subjected the servant of God 
to the most severe punishments, and on the other, he 
-did not think it prudent to give his reasons for such 
treatment. Though it is very probable that the saintly 
Founder even entertained some doubts as to the inno- 
cence of Gerard, and imposed those punishments in 
order to obtain from his lips an open confession, yet 
there are grounds for believing that he looked upon the 
accusation as false, and that he inflicted those trials 
simply to test the virtue of the servant of God. 

However, this may be, the Rector Major, as soon as he 
had received the letter of accusation, sent a messenger 
to Iliceto, and ordered the basely caluminated brother 
to come to Pagani. Gerard received the order with 
; great calmness, and the following day left Iliceto, 
which he was never more to see, and repaired to the 
place of destination where St. Alphonsus impatiently 
•awaited him. 

"What a melancholy surprise, when he was told of 



292 STORMY DAYS. 

the accusation that had been made against him. To 
be accused of a crime for which he entertained a most 
decided, indescribable disgust! To be charged with 
having so disgracefully violated that virtue of which 
he himself had testified that he regarded it as a virtue 
which he prized and loved most dearly! "O my God!" 
so he writes in his notes, "among all the virtues which 
please Thee especially, are holy purity and innocence! 
O infinite purity ! I trust in Thee that Thou wilt pre- 
serve me from every, even the least impure thought 
into which I, a miserable being of this world, may fall." 
And it was now boldly asserted that he had been en- 
tirely faithless to these sentiments, that he had con- 
verted his love and esteem for its very opposite ! The 
accusation was made in such a way that one who knew 
what manner of life he had hitherto lived could be mis- 
led to believe him guilty. 

The servant of God had a difficult task before him. 
Should he try to save his honor that had been attacked, 
to defend his innocence, to redeem his good name from 
a horrible calumny, or should he silently take up the 
cross, quietly bear with the hatred, scorn and contempt 
of men, and leave his reputation entirely in the hands 
of Providence? There were many excellent reasons 
why he should favor the former course ; yet his humil- 
ity and intense desire to render himself more conform- 
able to the Divine Redeemer bade him be heroic, and 
bear it in silence. 

Mindful of his vow, always to do what is most per- 
fect, Gerard decided upon this course, and in spite of 
the consciousness of his untarnished innocence, he 
listened to the charges made against him without utter- 
ing a word, just as if they rested on evident truth and as 
if he were worthy of punishment. However meritor- 
ious this silence of the servant of God may have been 
in the eyes of Him Who is able to fathom the depths 



STORMY DAYS. 293 

of hearts, under the circumstance it wore in the eyes 
of men an appearance of equivocation. It was not by 
any means an acknowledgment of guilt ; yet it could 
not be deemed a defence against the accusation, and 
therefore justified the trial to which he was subjected. 

Saint Alphonsus reproved the brother most bitterly, 
expressed his grief and his indignation, and humbled 
him with the severity which is usually employed against 
any one who has actually fallen. He finally forbade 
him to approach Holy Communion, and under the 
severest penalties to have the least intercourse with 
the outside world, even hj letter. 

The humble brother bowed his head, accepted all 
this in silence, and preserved in this dreadful moment, 
a cheerful countenance and his peace of soul. 

In this delicate situation the spirit of murmur could 
not take possession of his heart ; nor did he feel any 
aversion to the saint, who had so humbled him. On 
the contrary, Gerard exhibited the greatest respect for 
him in everything, and it was just at that time, and 
soon after his arrival at Pagani when a brother heard 
him express this love and affection for his Superior. 
Happening to meet the latter in the corridor, Gerard 
gazed at him with the humility and love of a child, and 
cried out, when St. Alphonsus had passed him : "O my 
Father! you have the face of an angel. When I see 
you I am overwhelmed with consolation." 

If it was possible for Gerard to preserve interior 
peace in spite of his interior suffering, if he calmly 
bore the interior pains, perplexities, doubts, anxieties 
and similar emotions which were harassing him, it was 
due in no slight degree to the fact that he was no longer 
a beginner in these matters. 

In fact, through all the favors of heaven, the ecs- 
tasies which were bestowed upon him, the visions 
which refreshed his spirit, and those wonderful moments 



294 STORMY DAYS. 

of intercourse with the super-terrestrial, blissfui wor*d, 
of which we have often been enabled to make mention, 
there was extended a long chain of interior sufferings. 
It would be quite a false view of the life of the servant 
of God, if we supposed it a life of mere spiritual and 
heavenly consolations. His life was the life 01 a saint, 
a life of extraordinary gifts ; it could therefore not be 
void of thorns and crosses. 

Even previous to his entrance into the Order, inter- 
ior sufferings were well known to the servant of God. 

Besides those sufferings which transformed him every 
Friday into a picture of death, and by which he took 
part in the agony of the Kedeemer, and that terrible 
woe into which he was sunk b} r the thought of sin, 
which like a fearful pestilence renders millions of im- 
mortal souls eternally unhappy, the good brother had 
to suffer, if not continually, at least very often, those 
cruel torments which are created in faithful and tender 
souls by the anxiety that they might yet be separated 
from God and not enjoy Him in eternity. In conse- 
quence of his great humility, which is ever alive to one's 
own unworthiuess, deficiencies, malice, indolence and 
.sinfulness, — the torments increased in proportion as his 
Humility became more perfect ; they often plunged him 
mto a sea of discouragement and temptation, in which 
he became disconsolate and as it were annihilated, with- 
out the least prospect of relief. The waves of despair 
were pressing upon his heart from all sides ; nowhere 
ivas there any support or consolation for him, except 
fn simple faith. 

In the midst of these bitter trials, Gerard usually 
applied to those whom he regarded as the special 
friends of God, and entreated them to offer prayers for 
his poor sord. Sometimes, in consequence of these 
prayers, the Lord deigned to alleviate some of his suf- 
ferings. 



STORMY DAYS. 295 

During the first years of Gerard's stay at Iliceto, 
there lived at the convent, Dominic Blasucci, one of 
the'students of the Congregation who was engaged in his 
studies for the priesthood. The servant of God took de- 
light in making him his confidant, since he knew that 
this pious youth stood in high favor with Almighty 
God. One day he came to Blasucci when he was in- 
teriorly troubled. The good student at once remarked 
by the paleness of the brother's countenance that he 
was suffering. Gerard candidly acknowledged that he 
was suffering unspeakable trials, and then begged him 
most earnestly to help him in this distressing condition. 
Filled with compassion, Dominic made the sign of the 
Cross on the heart of the poor brother, and, behold! 
such interior consolation filled his bosom, that all 
troubles vanished, and he felt relieved. 

Similarly extraordinary alleviations were not, as a 
rule, of long duration ; they were like cool drops of 
water upon the parched tongue of a thirsty man. The 
sufferings soon returned, often with greater violence, 
and his soul was again burning in the consuming fire 
of doubt and perplexity. 

Gerard's letters show, in many passages, marks of 
this painful condition of his interior ; and sometimes. he 
knows how to describe them in words which, despite 
their brevity, produce the most heartfelt compassion. 

Thus, while gently mentioning his sufferings, he 
writes for prayers to the venerable Sister Mary of Jesus: 
"Do not, I beseech you, forget to recommend me often 
to the Lord. I stand in the greatest need of prayers. 
Oh! God knows my continual trials." 

He speaks more clearly of the bitterness of his soul 
m another letter to the same religious: "O God!" he 
says, "how gratified I was to receive such a letter as I 
have been desiring so long to receive. I tell you in 
truth and before God: this longing and great desire 



296 STORMY DAYS. 

do not come from myself ; they come from the Lord 
Who lias referred me to others for help. Since I can- 
not help myself ; it is His will that I should travel the 
path assigned me, amid storms and waves. Alas! 
I wish that His holy designs may be perfectly accom- 
plished in me." 

"I am full of sin," he sadly writes to Sister Mary of 
Jesus, "all are being converted ; only I remain har- 
dened. Do penance for me, that the Lord may pardon 
me and receive me again. I beg the same of all your 
daughters." 

In May 1753, he again implores the nuns at Ripa- 
candida: "Pray very much for me to the Lord, for I 
suffer great spiritual trials. God knows in what dis- 
tress and in what a disconsolate state I am. If yon wish, 
you can do much for me with God. Do this act of 
charity for me." 

He expresses the exact nature of his sufferings in 
the following words addressed to Sister Mary of Jesus: 
"I know what sufferings you have endured ; but I tell 
you, my own heart suffers more bitterly. You cannot 
imagine the depth of my sorrow and how keenly I feel 
them. When I tell you that I suffer more than you, 
it is no exaggeration, for divine justice has nailed me 
to the cross in such a manner that it appears to me no 
one else could evermore be nailed to it. Ever praised 
be the most holy will of God ! But what makes me 
constantly tremble and inspires me with the greatest 
terror is the thought that I shall not persevere till the 
end." 

The torture of this thought pursued the good brother 
till the close of his life. As a proof of this, and at the 
.same time in order to describe in his own Avoids mental 
sufferings which are unparalled and incomprehensible 
to him who has never endured them, we quote two 
other letters which he wrote, in the year 1754, to the 



STORMY DAYS. 297 

congenial Sister Mary of Jesns. Even the superscrip- 
tion of the first is the expression of an anxious, dis- 
tressed heart: "My God! have mercy on me!" 

Then Gerard begins : "Alas ! my dear Mother, how 
can you make game of me by writing me such a letter? 
You know very well that by doing so you intensify the 
sufferings which I am always enduring on account of 
my sins. You are in good spirits : that is why you are 
jesting with me. But as for me, what shall I say? God 
wishes your happiness, and I am glad of it. Yes, may 
the Lord help you in that happy condition, you whom 
He loves so much ! Thus it usually happens : when 
one rises, the other sinks. I have sunk in such a way 
that I believe there is no more rising, and the years of 
my suffering are to last forever. Let them continue. 
Even this should not trouble me ; if only I love God 
and please Him in all things, this is enough. But here 
is the cause of my suffering without God. My dear 
Mother, if you do not help me, woe is me. I find my- 
self in an utter prostration of spirits, in a sea of per- 
plexity, and as it were on the brink of despair. It ap- 
pears to me that there is no longer a God for me, 
divine mercy is at an end for me and now nothing awaits 
me but justice. See and consider my unhappy con- 
dition ! If the sacred compact of faith still exists bet- 
ween us, then you must know that now is the moment 
in which you should come to my assistance and pray 
to God for me, a miserable sinner. I beg you, have 
pity on my soul t I have not the courage to appear be- 
fore creatures." 

The other letter, dated at Naples, was written ten 
months before the death of the servant of God. The 
same state of mind, the same interior trials, are expres- 
sed in it. Its reads as follows : 
"Jesus, Mary! 

"My dearest Sister : "While I am nailed to the cross 



298 STORMY DAYS. 

I write you in haste, for I have very little time. Alas! 
have pity on me in my agony ! I have little to say, and 
if I did not do violence to myself I could not write ; 
tears would prevent me from doing so. My trials are 
so bitter that they cause me the fears of a death-agony ! 
and when I feel as if I could breathe forth my soul, I 
find myself again in life to endure more sufferings. 
I suffer. I know not how to express myself otherwise. 
It is impossible for me to communicate in words the gall 
and poison that trouble me, so that you may under- 
stand how bitter they are. I know that you are happy ; 
your contentment somewhat encourages me, and makes 
me revive in God. Praised be the Lord for the many 
graces which He has bestowed upon me ! Instead of 
permitting me to die under His sanctifying blows, He 
still gives me strength to live. If He sends me suffer- 
ings, it is only because He wishes that I should become 
a follower of my divine Redeemer. Oh! He is our 
master ; I am his disciple. It is proper that we should 
learn of Him and walk in His footsteps. But, oh! now 
I am not walking at all ; I am motionless on the cross 
with Him, buried in deep sadness and in unspeakable 
torments. It appears to me as if a lance were piercing 
me, so as to deprive me of life ; and yet again it seems 
as if the cross on which I am hanging were only pro- 
longing my life and my sufferings. All — so I believe 
— have forsaken me. But I do not wish to oppose the 
designs of my divine Saviour; I wish to suffer with 
Him, nailed to the cross ; I bow my head and say: Yes, 
this is the will of God ; everything that He enjoins 
upon me, I will perform with joyful obedience. 

The servant of God had not been living in a sphere 
quite unusual and unknown to him, when calumny fil- 
led his soul with pain and sorrow; and consequently 
he could stand firm, for a not inconsiderable time, in ad- 
mirable silence, and without the loss of the interior peace. 



STORMY DAYS. 290 

Humanly speaking, an expression of pain, a gentle 
complaint, a word of indignation about the malicious 
lie might have been justifiable from the lips of Gerard ; 
but the perfect follower of our Lord wished to continue 
in silence, and desired to drink the last drop of the 
chalice of bitterness. 

The misfortune which had befallen him, as well as 
the cause of his humiliations, very soon became known 
to his brethren. The impression which the affair made 
upon the most of them was, however, quite different 
from that which the wretched calumniator had thought 
to attain by her bold, cunning letter. Every one at 
large felt great compassion for the servant of God, for 
no one would believe that he had committed such an 
offence. Some of the Fathers who knew Gerard 
thoroughly, wished to persuade him to justify himself 
by speaking in defence of his innocence. But the 
humble brother did not wish to hear anything about 
justifying himself. "Let Almighty God provide," he 
used to say, when others were endeavoring to per- 
suade him. "If He wished to see me humbled, why 
should I take the trouble of withdrawing myself from 
His will? If, however, it is His will that my innocence 
should be brought to light, ah ! who will better under- 
stand how to accomplish this than He ? Let God do 
with me what He pleases ; I wish nothing else than 
what He wishes." "My affair," he was heard to say 
in prayer, "is Thine. If Thou wishest me to be humbled, 
I shall be glad of the humiliation ; Thou also didst 
walk this path!" 

Accordingly, he did nothing to put an end to his 
trials, but he redoubled his penances and his prayers. 
Visits to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament served to 
ease his mind, and the union of his own sufferings with 
those of the Bedeemer was his sweetest consolation. 
He prayed much during the night. When everything 



300 STORMY DAYS. 

had become quiet and the brethren had gone to bed, 
he ascended to the flat roof of the house to breath the 
invigorating cool night air. He looked up at the stars 
that seemed to shine upon him from a land of peace, 
and to speak to him of the tender providence of God ; 
he stretched out his hands towards heaven, and prayed 
and sighed and wept. Communing with that which is 
above, in this manner, he derived strength to bear on ; 
as a flower, exhausted by the heat of the day, imbibes 
in the silence of the night, the fresh dew of heaven. 

Having finished this nightly prayer, he descended to 
take a little rest, not in a bed, but in the coffin in 
which the remains of the saintly Father Sportelli had 
been preserved four years before. 

"Hi3 humiliations," says Father Tannoja, "did not 
make him shed tears ; on the contrary, he was tilled 
with joy. Nature rebelled against it; and amid the 
noise of passion, mistrusting his own strength, he often 
recommended himself to the prayers of others. If he 
lamented anything, it was the sad condition of the soul 
who had calumniated him. He did not cease to offer 
up to God his own penances, and to ask for light and 
grace for her." 

Gerard's most painful trial was in not being permitted 
to receive Holy Communion. The sentence pronounced 
against him, depriving him of the love and esteem, and 
partly of intercourse with his brethren might have been 
supportable ; but that which deprived him of his dear 
Lord in the Blessed Sacrament seemed to him beyond 
endurance. "Do not ask me, I beg you," he said to a 
priest who wished him to serve at his Mass ; "do not 
tempt me, for I might snatch the Lord out of your 
hands (che ve lo strappo dalle mani)." Nevertheless, 
he did not desire to ask for a mitigation of the punish- 
ment, but wished to bring his will and the will of God 
into the most perfect harmony. "It is sufficient for me 



STOEMY DAYS. 301 

to have Jesus Christ in my heart," he said to some one 
who compassionated him on account of this de- 
privation. On one occasion he remarked : "The Lord 
has punished my little love, and now withdraws from 
me ; but I still visit Him interiorly, and I shall never 
miss Him in my heart." 

One day his friends wished to persuade him to ask 
St. Alphonsus to communicate again. Gerard was 
somewhat astonished, and at first hesitated ; but he 
soon after came to a decision : "No," he said, while 
striking his hand on the rail of the stairs near which 
he stood, "no! I must die under the pressure of God's 
holy will!" 

Among his friends outside of the house, Gerard's 
non-appearance created painful surprise. No one 
knew what had become of him. Strange rumors about 
the brother's punishment had reached some of them. 
Among the latter was the venerable Sister Maria 
Ccelestis Costarosa, who was greatly grieved thereat, 
since she could not suspect the exact cause of Gerard's 
isolation. She imagined that some liberty which he 
had taken in the exercise of one of his pious works per- 
formed for the common good, had given occasion to 
the trouble, and under this impression she w r rote to 
him as follows : "We have heard of your trials with 
great sorrow. It is always your love that brings woe 
upon you, and this time 'Fra Zulfo' (the devil) has suc- 
ceeded in preventing you from visiting us at Foggia. 
We have not, however, ceased to pray for you, and I 
hope that the evil spirit may eventually be baffled. 
Wherever we are, wherever Ave live, let us visit each 
other in God, and, united, love our only beneficent Jesus 
Christ, Who loves us so much." 

Father Margotta, whom Gerard had informed of what 
had happened him, wrote the following paternal letter : 
"My dear Gerard : Your letter has given me two-fold 



302 STOEMY DAYS. 

pleasure; first, because you say that you are always 
mindful of me in your prayers ; and secondly, because 
you assure me of your entire conformity to the will of 
God in reference to the trial to which you are now sub- 
jected. As for myself, I wish you everything that is 
good, and that you may always advance in the service 
of God. I trust that you may remain steadfast in the 
good will by which you are ready, through obedience,, 
and in the most perfect submission to your Superiors,, 
to live only for the accomplishment of the divine will. 
I think of you in my poor prayers to our Lord and the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, that the strength may be given 
you which is necessary to make you in all things con- 
formable to the will of God, and to fulfil the pious 
wishes which you entertain." 

Similar affectionate consolations on the part of men 
might not have had much effect on the severely tried 
soul of the saintly brother, if God, on His part, had not 
come to his assistance with an abundance of consolation. 
But this He did ; and while He afflicted Gerard with 
the greatest trials, He bestowed upon him new favors. 

"The subjects of his meditations were at that time,'* 
as Father Taimoja observed, "the attributes of God. 
In this ocean he quenched in some measure the violent 
thirst which he had for the reception of Holy Com- 
munion. Upon being asked one day how he could 
exist without Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, he re- 
plied : 'I recreate myself in the immensity of my good 
God.' Meditation on the divine attributes made him 
insensible to all earthly things, and he became wrapt 
in ecstasy." 

Of such an ecstasy Father Cajone was one evening 
a witness. He was at that time discharging the duties 
of the office of Prefect of the sick, and as Gerard was 
sick in bed, he went to make the meditation with him, 
as is customary in the Congregation. "I had chosen," 



STORMY DAYS. 303 

says Father Cajone, "for the subject of meditation, the 
love of God towards us, and His claim upon us for a 
return of this love. The mere mention of this subject 
■was sufficient to make him entirely forgetful of himself. 
He lay quietly on his back, his head leaning against 
the wall and his eyes raised to heaven. His eyelids 
did not move during the whole time of meditation. At 
first I thought that there was nothing extraordinary in 
what I saw, but when the time of meditation had elap- 
sed, and he continued in the same position, in spite of 
the noise which I made. I remarked that he had sunk 
into a supernatural recollectedness with God. To my 
astonishment he remained thus for a considerable time." 

Another very wonderful occurrence during Gerard's 
illness is related by Father Landi : "Several of our 
brethren," he says, "have related it to me, and Father 
Eector Major (St. Alphonsus) can testify to the truth 
of it. The holy Founder was one day taking his dinner 
in the refectory, when all at once Gerard entered and 
stood before him half-dressed. St. Alphonsus ■ re- 
proved the brother for this impropriety, and wished to 
know why he had dared to come before him in such an 
attire. 'I came immediately,' answered Gerard modest- 
ly, 'because your Reverence called me.' It was true. 
Gerard hereby proved that the desire which his Super- 
ior expressed in his mind to see him, had been com- 
municated to him in a supernatural manner." 

The continual, inviolable silence, observed by the 
servant of God, furnished food for thought. Things 
looked rather doubtful ; for although there were those 
who, knowing his spirit, were certain that there was 
question here of a base calumny, and who desired only 
an open defence of his innocence from the lips of Ger- 
ard, yet there were others who believed that the accu- 
sation was not without foundation. Gerard, they said, 
was undoubtedly acquainted and on a familiar footing 



304: STOKMY DAYS. 

with all who were in the house when the crime was 
committed, and the question must be asked whether 
his conscience was not tarnished in the foulest manner, 
and whether he did not need the services of an influen- 
tial friend to rescue him from his sad error, and induce 
him, to make an humble acknowledgment of his guilt. 

St. Alphonsus therefore sent the brother to Ciorani, 
where the Novitiate was conducted at that time, in order 
that he might here reflect in solitude and with greater 
liberty upon the affairs, of his conscience. Letters to 
the Rector of the house, Father Xavier Rossi, and the 
Master of Novices, Father Tannoja instructed them to 
keep a sharp eye upon the servant of God and to ob- 
serve his conduct minutely and carefully. That they 
faithfully responded to this charge cannot be doubted, 
in view of the spirit which animated these two zealous 
Fathers. "There was, however," as Father Tannoja 
himself confesses, "nothing that could be censured in 
his conduct; he was always cheerful, serene and humble 
towards all, and ready to fulfil every command. 
What most astonished them was the fact that he never 
uttered a word about the misfortune that had come 
upon him. What leisure time he had after his Avork 
was spent in church before the Blessed Sacrament, or 
in his cell. 

The simplicity of his obedience he also displayed 
during the few days he passed at Ciorani to the great 
admiration of his Superior. One day the latter sent 
him, for some reason or other, to the neighboring town 
of Castellamare. The Rector, mindful no doubt of the 
bodily weakness of the brother who was scarcely con- 
valescent, wished that he should ride ; he simply said : 
"Take the donkey with you." Gerard took the animal 
out of the stable, but did not mount it, and led it by 
the bridle to the town and back again. He arrived 
home bathed in perspiration and covered with dust. 



STORMY DAYS. 305 

Father Rossi remarking the exhausted condition of 
Gerard, and greatly annoyed on this account called 
him to task, and asked him why he had not used the 
animal, since it had been placed at his service. "Your 
Reverence," said Gerard in reply, "commanded me to 
take the donkey with me, but not that I should ride it." 

Gerard had spent ten or twelve days at Ciorani, 
during which time opinions about the delicate affair 
began to take a more hopeful turn for the brother. 

The exemplary conduct of the servant of God, in which 
the most experienced eye could detect nothing that 
could furnish the least reason for condemning him, 
threw a heavy weight into the balance for those ayIio 
hitherto were in doubt about Gerard's innocence. Even 
though the affair was not yet decided, the scales point- 
ed undeniably to the purity of the brother, as well as 
t j the horrible conspiracy that had been formed against 
him. 

As Father Giovenale had just then to set out for 
Caposele in order to replace Father Mazzzini, who, 
since Father Cafaro's death, had discharged the office of 
Superior, and who was now sick, St. Alphonsus told him 
to take with him Brother Gerard, to whom he granted 
permission again to receive Holy Communion every 
Sunday. The brother was still to remain separated 
from the outside world, and Father Giovenale was 
charged with the duty that had before been assigned 
to Father Rossi and Father Tannoja in regard to Ger- 
ard, namely, that he should watch carefully over him, 
and should test his spirit by means of humiliation and 
mortification. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

A Rule Of Life. 



Toward the end of June — on a Friday — the ser- 
vant of God came with Father Giovenale to Caposele. 
He again breathed freely, since he could approach the 
holy table and was infinitely delighted when the hour 
arrived in which he could receive our Lord in the 
Blessed Sacrament. 

Just at this time our Lord glorified His humbled ser- 
vant by a miracle, which according to the testimony of 
witnesses, had occurred several times at Iliceto. AVe 
will relate it according to the account given by Father 
Laiuli. * 

On Saturday evening, after recreation, Gerard came 
to Father Giovenale, and asked permission to spend in 
strict seclusion the time that would elapse till the 
moment when, on the following morning he was to 
receive Holy Communion. Permission was granted. 
On Sunday morning the Superior having need of his 
services, sent for him. A brother called for him in his 
cell, but did not find him there. He sought him in the 
church, in the choir ; but all in vain. Others searched 
the whole house, but it was impossible to discover him. 
Every one Avas asked where he was. Again they look- 
ed for him in his cell ; even under the bed. Everything 
was carefully examined ; noAvhere was there a vestige 
of the brother. In the meantime the physician, Nicho- 
las Santorelli, a frequent guest of the house, who Avas 
quite acquainted with Gerard, had arrived, and met 
Father Giovenale. "Do you know," he said, "that AA-e 
have lost Brother Gerard? We can find him noAvhere." 



A HULE OF LIFE. 307 

"How? he is lost? Wliy do you not look for him ?" 
"We have already looked for him, but all in vain." 
"I wager he has concealed himself under his bed." "I had 
a thorough examination made of his cell," said the 
Superior; "he is not there." "Very well," the doctor 
answered, "I shall go to look for him," and then he 
went away with Brother Nicholas di Sapia. The search 
was as unsuccessful as the others. "Oh ! it does not 
matter," said Santorelli, who did not wish to acknow- 
ledge himself vanquished, "it does not matter ; when 
the time for Holy Communion arrives you will see him 
come from his hiding-place." 

And so it was. When the time had arrived Gerard 
moved through the corridor in the happiest of moods. 
He was called, and conducted to Father Giovenale, who 
was walking in the garden with Santorelli. The Rec- 
tor rebuked him severely for his disappearance, and 
wished to know where he had been in the morning. 
"In my cell" answered Gerard. "What, in your cell ? 
Ah! but did I not have others look for you there? 
Make ten crosses on the ground with }*our tongue, im- 
mediately." Gerard knelt down at once and made the 
crosses, but as the ground round the cistern was cover- 
ed with mud his tongue was very much soiled. "You 
really deserve to be deprived of Holy Communion, and 
to fast on bread and water for a month." "My Father," 
said Gerard, "}-ou need only to impose it on me for the 
love of Jesus Christ, and I will obey." Father Landi 
relates : "But when he was urged to explain the matter, 
Gerard answered with all simplicity : 'Since I feared 
that I would be disturbed in my seclusion, I prayed to 
the Lord to make me invisible.' 'Why did you do that?' 
said Father Giovenale; 'I forgive you this time, but take 
care never again to make such a request.' " 

On his way to Church, Gerard met Dr. Santorelli. 
"Do you know," he said, "that I am again to receive Holy 



6VO A RULE OF LIFE. 

Communion?" They then both entered the sacristy, 
and the doctor asked him : "Gerard tell me the truth, 
where were you ? How can you maintain that you were 
in the cell, when Brother Nicholas and myself examin- 
ed every corner of it, without finding you?" Gerard 
took the doctor by the arm, led him to the cell, and 
showed him the place near the entrance where he had 
been sitting on a small chair. "But we looked for you 
everywhere and did not find you." "Yes," he replied 
smiling, "I sometimes make myself very small." 

"This event," says the nephew of thedoctor, "was so 
impressed on the memories of its children, that when 
we wished to play that game usually called accovarella 
(hide-and-seek), we generally said, 'Let us play Brother 
Gerard !' " 

Scarcely had Gerard arrived at Caposele when the 
affair was fully explained and his innocence gloriously 
vindicated. The calumniator of the saintly religious, 
Xeria Caggiano, had been seized with an illness which 
placed her in a very critical condition. Torme:it3d by 
remorse of conscience, she thought seriously of making 
amends for the wrong she had done the servant of God, 
told her confessor all about it, and asked him to write 
a letter to St. Alphonsus, in which she recanted her 
former declaration against the lay-brother as untrue, 
and as a calumny, acknowledging with deep contrition 
that she was inspired by the evil spirit to ascribe to 
the servant of God a crime of which he was wholly in- 
nocent. 

What joy the holy Founder experienced when he re- 
ceived these written declarations, what a burden was 
taken from his heart, it is needless to describe. Noth- 
ing could have afforded him greater consolation. He 
observed the servant of God's self-denial, submission 
and obedience, and would gladly have regarded it as 
the result of solid virtue, if calumny had not covered 



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Pv>v 






H i !m 




Wy/% 






\ 




, 



©f. ^Hpfjarjs-us discovers frje irjrjocerjce 
of ]©lessea (srepard. 



When the calumny, that had been circulated about the Blessed 
Brother, came to light, St. Alphonsus said to him: "My Son, why did 
you not utter a single word in defence of your innocence ?" — "My Fa- 
ther," answered Gerard, "how could I ? Does not the Rule tell me nev- 
er to justify myself, but to suffer in silence the mortifications, that come 
to me from my Superior ?" St. Alphonsus, edified at the virtue of the 
saintly Brother replied : "Well done ! Well done, my Son ! May God's 
blessing be with you." 



A RULE OF LIFE. 309 

all with a dark, mysterious veil, putting him in the 
perplexing situation of questioning the virtue which he 
wished to believe above suspicion, and forcing him at 
the same time to question whether that virtue might 
be a successful mask of dissimulation. Now, when all 
things had been explained, ho rejoiced as Jacob .did 
when he found his lost son in high honor. 

There was universal rejoicing when the brother's in- 
nocence was proved. Perhaps Gerard was the only 
one who did not take pleasure in the vindication. "As 
the calumny had failed to cast him down," says Father 
Tannoja, "so the vindication of his innocence did not 
elate him." 

St. Alphonsus sent for him immediately to come to 
Nocera, where he received him in a most fatherly man- 
ner, regretting exceedingly, that during the past weeks 
the kindly feelings which he had entertained towards 
him were embittered by doubts and fears. "But, my 
son," said the saint to Gerard among other things, 
"why did you not say a word in defence of your inno- 
cence?" "How could I do this, my Father," replied 
Gerard, "since the Rule forbids us to excuse ourselves, 
and tells us to bear all mortifications in silence." 
Greatly touched by so exact an observance of the Rule, 
St. Alphonsus responded : "Well ! Well ! my son, go 
now, and may God bless you!" 

On another occasion Gerard was asked by the saint : 
"You certainly must have been very dejected when 3^011 
were not allowed to receive Holy Communion." "Never, 
my Father," answered the servant of God, "if our 
Lord did not chose to come to me, what right could I 
have to complain?" 

Such rare virtue greatly pleased St. Alphonsus. Up 
to the present time he was not fully aware of the great- 
ness of Gerard's sanctity, as the saintly brother had 
generally been living at Iliceto ; he now esteemed him 



310 A RULE OF LIFE. 

most highly. "Gerard," he said one da}' to Father 
Cimini, "is a miracle of regular observance. He has 
given me remarkable testimony, and I was greatly edi- 
fied when I perceived the high degree of perfection to 
which he had already attained." 

St. Alphonsus spoke in the same way to Father Mar- 
gotta. For when Father Margotta, who was convinced 
of Gerards sanctity, praised his virtues, spoke of his 
gift of miracles, his zeal, his wonderful innocence, and 
his indefatigable striving after perfection, and remark- 
ed the saintly conduct of the servant of God, St. Al- 
phonsus said: "Even if he had exhibited his virtues in 
no other way, I should be satisfied with his behavior 
during the late trial/' 

-The exalted opinion which the holy Founder had for 
the humble brother, and which was confirmed on the 
occasion of the trial, was continually on the increase ; 
even at the hour of death, St. Alphonsus thought of 
his faithful son, who was at that time already a glori- 
fied inhabitant of heaven, and specially invoked his 
intercession. 

Let us follow the servant of God to Caposele. Al- 
though his stay there was only for a feAV weeks, from 
the end of June till the end of July, it made a lasting 
impression. We have already stated how the children 
were affected. 

Of Gerard's most wonderful knowledge of secret 
events Father Tannoja tells the following examine: 
"One day Father Giovenale sat in the confessional and 
was hearing a man's confession, when Gerard passed 
by and cast a threatening look upon the confessionaL 
As soon as he met the Father, he said : "The confession 
of this man was not valid ; do try to regain this soul 
for God." The Father called the man back, and really 
found him guilty of sacrilege and other sins. He in- 



A RULE OF LIFE. 311 

duced him to make a good confession, that he might 
again be restored to grace. 

Father Giovenaie experienced the same supernatural 
prophetic look on another occasion. One day he "was 
troubled as to whether he was in the state of grace, 
when Gerard came to make his confession. After con- 
fession he said : "My Father, be at peace. You are in 
the state of grace. It is the devil who causes you this 
anxiety." Father Giovenaie was surprised at this dis- 
closure, although he reprimanded the brother rather 
harshly: "You are a fool," said he, "and do not know, 
what you say." Then he imposed a penance upon him 
and bade him go. Gerard had penetrated his interior. 

Canon Rossi, to whom we have previously referred, 
at the same time experienced Gerard's prophetic look 
into the future. Rossi was at our house to spend a few 
days in retirement when a message was sent to him 
from Melfi, his native city, which obliged him to send 
a messenger there at once. The messenger did not re- 
turn for a long time, which circumstance caused the 
Canon great confusion. No one in the house knew of 
his state of mind ; the Canon was not even in the house 
at the time, but in the garden. Suddenly, he saw the 
servant of God coming toward him, smilingly accosting 
him : "Lord Canon, be at ease, everything is well at 
Melfi." When the messenger returned, Rossi was con- 
vinced of the truth of Gerard's words from the report 
he received. 

The recollection of an event, not similarly super- 
natural, yet an acknowledgment, characteristic of the 
spirit of the brother, relative to his stay in Caposele 
at that time, has been preserved by the family of San- 
torelli. Nicholas Santorelli, the doctor, joked with 
Gerard one day : "Brother" said he, "it is growing hot, 
and the insects are increasing in number. How will 
you spend the night with so many fleas?" "Oh," 



312 A RULE OF LIFE. 

Gerard replied, "I am greatly indebted to these little 
creatures ; they do not let me sleep, and so I can think 
of God continually." 

There is another circumstance on record, during his 
stay at Caposele, namely his notes, which reveal the 
interior of the servant of God. The notes are authentic. 

Under the pretense of subjecting the interior of the 
brother to a more exact test, Father Giovenale demand- 
ed that he note down, as well as he could, his desires, 
sentiments and resolutions. Gerard did so with the 
simplicity and sincerity of a child. 

Gerard begins with his customary wish, as follows: 
"May the grace of God be always in our hearts, and may 
the Blessed Virgin Mary preserve it for us ! Amen. 

"My dear Father : 

"Your Reverence wishes to know all the mortificat- 
ions which I usually practise : you likewise ask that I 
should communicate to you in writing, the pious de- 
sires, sentiments and resolutions which I cherish, and 
lastly, explain to you the vow which I have made al- 
ways to do what is most perfect." 

After this introduction he puts before us the follow- 
ing list of the mortifications practised by him. 

"Mortifications for every day. I take the discipline 
once. — I wear a chain nine inches broad and eighteen 
long, as a cincture. Morning and evening, that is when 
rising and going to bed, I make nine crosses on the 
floor with my tongue. — With one portion of my din- 
ner and supper I mix bitter herbs or wormwood (nas- 
cenzoj. — I wear on my breast a heart furnished with 
iron points. — At least three times a day I chew bit- 
ter herbs or wormwood. — I say in the morning and 
evening, six Hail Marys, with my face on the ground. 

"Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and on all 
vigils, I eat my meals kneeling. — Moreover, at dinner 
as well as at supper I make nine crosses with my 



A RULE OF LIFE. 313 

tongue on the floor; and on all these days I leave 
untouched the fruit that is served. 

"On Fridays at noon, I partake of two courses, and 
at supper, of one. 

"On Saturdays I fast on bread and water. 

"On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during 
sleep, I girdle my forehead with a little chain, I put 
another about my waist ; I lie upon a chain nine inches 
broad and eighteen inches long, which also serves me 
as a cincture during the day ; I always wear a chain 
around my arm. 

"Once a week, I scourge myself to blood. 

"During all the novenas which precede the festivals 
of our Lord, of our Blessed Mother, and of other saints, 
besides the aforesaid penances, I scourge myself to 
blood once during the novena and every ordinary day 
therein. To these must be added other extraordinary 
exercises, for which I shall specially ask your Rever- 
ence's permission." 

To this list Gerard adds those "desires" with which 
he felt his soul specially filled, as also a few of those 
thoughts which stirred his soul very powerfully, and to 
which he gave the title of "the most ardent sentiments 
of my heart." 

"Desires. — To love God very much; always to be 
united with God ; to do every thing for God ; to love 
every thing for God ; to conform myself entirely to His 
holy will ; to suffer much for God. 

"The most ardent sentiments of my heart : I have a 
favorable opportunity of sanctifying myself ; if I allow 
it to pass unemployed, I shall lose it forever. If once 
I have the opportunity to become a saint, what is want- 
ing to accomplish it ? Yes ! I will become a saint. But 
alas! what is it to become a saint? O Lord! how 
great is my folly ! I must sanctify myself. Others pro- 
cure for me the means thereto, and should I complain ? 



314 A RULE OF LIFE. 

"Brother Gerard ! resolve to give thyself entirely to 
God ! Henceforth be firmly convinced and remember 
that, by prayer and meditation alone, thou wilt not yet 
become a saint. The best prayer consists in being just 
what pleases the Lord, in acting fearlessly according 
to God's will, and in exerting himself continually for 
God. This is what God requires of thee. Neither the 
world nor thyself shouldst thou serve. It is sufficient to 
have God always present and to be always united with 
Him. Truly, what ever we do, provided it is done for 
God, may be called prayer. Some follow this business, 
others that; but my business is to do God's will. 
Every exertion ceases to be an exertion as soon as we 
exert ourselves for God. 

"On the 21st. of September, 1752, I became bettei 
aquainted with the following truths : If I had died ten 
years sooner, I would seek nothing more, desire nothing 
more. To suffer and not to suffer for God, is an infinite 
torment. To suffer every thing and to suffer it for 
God, is nothing. I will live and work in this world as 
if only God and myself were therein. Many say that I 
am deceiving the world ; O God ! what would it be to 
deceive the world! far more astonishing were it if I 
endeavored to deceive God!" 

These thoughts move him to a serious "reflection" 
to which he subjoins a few "resolutions," mingled with 
prayers; also a list of "resolutions" which enter into 
particulars. 

"Reflection: If I am lost, I shall lose God, and what 
remains to me after the loss of God? Lord! grant 
me the grace to have a specially firm belief in the 
mystery of the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

"Resolutions: My Lord Jesus Christ, see me here 
with paper and ink 4 ready to write the resolutions 
which I have already made before Thy Majesty, and 
which I now renew as obedience requires me to do. 



A RULE OF LIFE. 316 

Mayest Thou, O my Lord, assist me, that I may faith- 
fully carry out what I promise! Alas! I cannot depend 
o'n myself, and am incapable of acting according to my 
promises ; I confide entirely in Thee, Who art infinite 
goodness and mercy, and canst not allow Thy promise 
to remain unfulfilled. O supreme Goodness ! if before, 
I have so often erred, these errors proceeded from my 
wish to do every thing by myself; now I desire that 
Thou shouldst be the One Who should labor in me. 
Help me, O Lord, that I may do all things with the 
greatest exactness! I hope firmly in Thee, Thou inex- 
haustible Treasure ! 

"I chose the Holy Ghost to be my only Consoler and 
Protector in all things. Let Him be my Defender and 
the Conqueror of all my faults. Amen ! 

"And thoii, my only treasure! Immaculate Virgin 
Mary ; be thou in all the accidents of life, my partic- 
tdar guardian, ever intercede speedily for me with God, 
so that I may put in execution all my resolutions. 

"To you also, blessed spirits, do I address myself, 
and beg you in the name of our common Creator, the 
Creator of all things, to aid me as true advocates. 
In your presence I am writing these things; may 
you read them from the heavens above, and read 
them well, and exert yourselves in my behalf with the 
divine Majesty, so that I may faithfully observe all 
things. May your prayers be heard! Thus also, in 
your company, do I make my promises to the Most 
High, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Assist me speci- 
ally and constantly St. Teresa, St. Mary Magdalene of 
Pazzi, St. Catharine of Sienna, and St. Agnes ! 

"Every two weeks I will examine my conscience, in 
order to see whether I have failed against the resolu- 
tions which I here record. 

"O Gerard ! — what art thou doing ? Dost thou not 
know that one day what thou hast written will be held 



316 A RULE OF LIFE. 

up before thee? — Think therefore, seriously, that 
thoii must observe all things ! But who art thou who 
dost reproach me in this way? Thou speakest well, 
thou tellest the truth, but thou dost not know that I 
never dared confide in myself, and that I do not dare 
do so now ; nor shall I ever dare do so ; for, after hav- 
ing learned my own misery, I fear greatly to trust my- 
self, and if I did so, truly, I should have lost my senses. 
In God only I trust and hope ; into His hands I have 
entirely commended my life, so that He may do with 
me what He may please. And though I am in life, 
yet I am, strictly speaking, without life, for my life is 
my God. In Him only do I find my rest and of Him 
only do I hope to receive help in order truly to fulfil 
every thing what I am now promising to fulfil. Live 
Jesus and Mary! 

"Resolutions. 1. O my dearest and only Love, 
True God! to-day and forever I commend myself to 
Thy holy will. In all temptations and trials of this 
world I will say : 'Fiat vohmtas tua !' (Thy will be 
done!) Every thing that Thou ordainest I will accept 
with my whole heart, and while continually raising my 
eyes to heaven, will revere Thy divine hands, Avhich 
scatter upon me these precious jewels of the divine will. 

"2. My Lord Jesus Christ! I will do whatever the 
Catholic Church, my holy Mother, tells me to do. 

"3. My God! for the love of Thee, I will render 
obedience to my Superiors, as if I saw Thy divine 
Person before me, and would obey Thee personally. 
I will live just as if I were no longer myself, by making 
myself conformable to the judgment and will of those 
who command me, being convinced that I shall find 
Thee in them. 

"4. I wish to be poor, very poor in pleasure, and 
in the delights of self-will ; and, on the contrary, very 
rich in everv kind of discomfort. 



A ltULE OF LIFE. 317 

"5. Among all the virtues which please Thee, O my 
God, are especially holy purity and innocence. O in- 
finite Purity ! I trust in Thee that Thou -wilt preserve 
me from every even the least impure thought which I, 
a miserable being of this world, may conceive. 

"6. Only in three cases will I speak : 1. When it is 
for the, greater honor of God ; 2. When it is for the 
good of my neighbor ; 3. When my own necessities 
require me to do so. 

"7. In recreation I will speak only when I am 
spoken to, or when the previously mentioned cases 
occur. 

"8. For every Avoid which I shall be tempted to say 
against the greater pleasure of God, I shall render com- 
pensation by the ejaculatory prayer: 'O my Jesus, 
I love Thee with all my heart.' 

"9. I shall speak neither what is good, nor what is 
evil about myself, but act in such a way as if I were not 
in the World. 

"10. I will never excuse myself, not even when I 
have good reason to do so ; provided there is no offence 
against God, or injury to my neighbor. 

"11. I will allways be an enemy of singularity. 

"12. When reprimanded, I will make no reply un- 
less required to do so. 

"13. I will never accuse, nor speak ill of any one, 
even in jest. 

"14. I will always endeavor to excuse my neighbors 
by seeing in them the person of Jesus Christ Whom 
the Jews unjustly accused ; I will do this especially in 
the absence of the accused. 

"15. Should any one — even if it were the Rector 
Major — speak ill of his neighbor, I will draw his at- 
tention to his error. 

"16. I will always carefully avoid doing any thing 
likely to make my neighbor impatient. 



318 A RULE OF LIFE. 

"17. Should I notice a fault committed, I will avoid 
reproving the deliquent before others ; I will do so pri- 
vately, charitably, yet inaudibly. 

"18. When a Father or a Brother appears to need 
assistance, I will lay aside every thing to help him, 
unless otherwise instructed. 

"19. If I am allowed, I will visit the sick several 
times a day. 

"20. I will not interfere with the affairs of others, 
nor will I sav : 'That man does his work badly,' or the 
like. 

"21. In all work where I assist another, I will 
quietly render him the most exact obedience ; if told 
to do anything I will not say : 'This is not right,' or, 
'that does not please me.' But if I know from exper- 
ience that a certain way of doing a thing is not good, 
I will say so modestly. 

"22. In all duties, important or unimportant, such as 
house-cleaning, etc., where I work with others, I will 
never choose the best place, the most convenient posit- 
ion, the best tools ; but I will give to others what is 
most convenient, and be satisfied with what God allows 
me to have. In this way all will be contented. 

"23. I shall never seek any office or other duty, 
unless ordered by others. 

"24. During meals I will not look about me, unless 
to serve others, or through duty. 

"25. I will take from the board (on which the food 
is carried to the refectory) the portion' that is nearest 
to me, without looking at the other portions. 

"26. "I shall ignore all unreasonable interior mot- 
ions. Thus, when any one reproves or accuses me, 
I will allow the bitterness of feeling to pass away and 
await the return of peace. 

"27. The sum of my resolution is this : to give my- 



A RULE OF LIFE. 319 

self entirely to God. Therefore the three words, deaf, 
blind and dumb, will always be before my mind. 

"28. "The words, 'I will and I will not,' shall always 
be unknown to me. I wish nothing but that 'in me 
sint Deus vota tua et non vota niea.' (Thy wishes, O 
my God, and not mine may be fulfilled in me.) 

"29. In order to be able to do the will of God, 
I must renounce my own will. Yes ! I wish nothing 
but God ; if I wish God only it is right that I should 
separate myself from everything that is not God. 

"30. It shall be 1113- endeavor never to seek my 
own advantage in anything. 

"31. During the whole time of silence, I will strive 
to be mindful of the sufferings and death of Jesus 
Christ, and of the trials of the blessed Yirgin. 

"32. All my prayers, communions, etc., shall be for 
the benefit of poor sinners, for whom I will offer them 
up to God in union with the precious blood of Jesus 
Christ. 

"33. If any one who is not able to bear the sufferings 
which God has sent him calls upon me for help, or if 
I hear others speak of such a one, I will pray to God 
for him, and offer up all the good works which I per- 
form during three days, that God may give him the 
grace of conformity to His will. 

"34. When I receive the Superior's blessing, I will 
think that I am receiving it from our Lord, Jesus Christ 
Himself. 

"35. When unnecessary, I will not ask permission 
the evening before to receive Holy Communion, but 
will do so in the morning, so that I may communicate 
with better preparation. But if Holy Communion is 
refused me, I will communicate spiritually, at the Com- 
munion of the priest. 

"36. My thanksgiving after Holy Communion is to 



320 A RULE OF LIFE. 

last from the time I communicate till noon ; my pre- 
paration for the next day, from noon till evening." 

To these resolutions given here in detail the cons- 
cientious brother adds a few acts which he was accus- 
tomed to make when visiting the Blessed Sacrament, 
as also when wishing to express his love for God. 

"Acts when visiting the Blessed Sacrament : O my 
Lord! I believe that Thou art present in the Most 
Blessed Sacrament ; I adore Thee with my whole heart, 
and intend by this visit to adore Thee in all those 
places where Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. 
I offer Thee Thy most precious blood for all poor sin- 
ners ; at the same time I wish to receive Thee spiritual- 
ly wherever Thou art sacramentally present. 

"Acts of love of God : O my God ! I should wish to 
make as many acts of love for Thee as were made by 
the Blessed Virgin Mary, by all the blessed spirits 
from the beginning of their existence, as also by all the 
faithful on earth. I wish to love Thee with the love 
with which Jesus Christ loves Thee, and with which 
the elect love Thee ; and I wish to repeat these acts of 
love every moment. I will also make similar acts of 
love in regard to my dear Mother, the Blessed Virgin." 

These acts which Gerard resolves to make, he con- 
cludes with a resolution which exhibits the livelines of 
his faith in a beautiful light. It is as follows : 

"From this day forward I will treat priests with the 
greatest possible respect, with a respect that is due to 
Jesus Christ Himself. I will never lose sight of their 
great dignity." 

Then follows an explanation of the vow always to do 
what is most perfect. The servant of God continues : 

"Explanation of my vow : I have imposed upon my- 
self the duty always to do what is most perfect. This 
shall extend to all my works, even the most trivial ; and 
I bind myself to perform them with the greatest self 



A RULE OF LIFE. 321 

denial and perfection. I shall presuppose in all these 
tilings the general permission of your Eeverence, in 
order that I may act safely. 

"Bestrictions of this vow : 1. All the actions which 
I perform distractedly, without reflecting that they are 
against this vow, are not included. 

"2. Outside of the house, I may ask a dispensation 
from this vow. Such dispensation is not contrary to it. 
I make this reservation in order to prevent confusion 
and scruples arising from lack of liberty in action. 
I also reserve the liberty to ask of my Confessor a re- 
lease from this vow, who may then free me from it as 
often as he deems proper." 

Finally, the servant of God records a series of remarks 
concerning devotion, permitting us to cast a glance at 
his heart which was so zealous for salvation of souls. 
He concludes his notes with a resolution which has as 
its object something quite ordinary, but which beauti- 
fully shows his fidelity in small things : 

"Devotion to the Most Blessed Trinity: Whenever 
I see a cross or picture representing one of the three 
Divine Persons, or hear the Adorable Persons men- 
tioned, and whenever I begin or end any work, I will 
recite a 'Gloria Patri,' and will say this little prayer 
with devotion. 

"In honor of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary: I will 
do the same thing in regard to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; 
I will recite an 'Ave Maria' in honor of her purity every 
time I happen to see a woman. 

"In honor of holy Patrons: As such I regard the 
Archangel St. Michael and all the blessed spirits; St. 
Joachim and St. Anne, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, 
St. Elizabeth, St. John the Evangelist, the saint of the 
day, the patron saint of the year, the patron saint of 
the month, the saint of the day on which I was born, 
as well as the saint of the day on which I shall die. 



322 A RULE OF LIFE. 

Moreover, St. Francis Xavier, St. Teresa, St. Mary 
Magdalene of Pazzi, St. Philip Neri, St. Nicholas of 
Baii, St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, 
St. Thomas of Aquin, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis 
of Sales, St. Francis of Paula, St. Felix the Capuchin, 
St. Pascal, St. Vitus, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Mary 
Magdalene, St. Catharine of Sienna, St. Agnes, Saints 
Peter and Paul, St. James, and the Venerable Sister 
Mary Crucitixa. 

"Before and after meals: Three 'Gloria Patri' in 
honor of the Most Blessed Trinity, and three 'Ave 
Maria,' in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Every time 
I cut the loaf of bread, one 'Gloria Patri,' likewise 
every time I drink wine ; when drinking water, one 
'Ave ;' also when the clock strikes the hours. 

"Affections: O my Lord! could I but save as many 
souls as there are grains of sand in the ocean and on 
the land, leaves on the trees, blades of grass in the 
field, atoms in the air ; as many as there are rays of 
light in the sun and moon, and as there are creatures 
in the whole world! 

"When rising and going to bed, I will say the usual 
community prayers of thanksgiving ; in the evening and 
in the morning the acts for Holy Communion; and 
lastly, I shall examine my conscience at noon and in 
the evening, and then make an act of contrition. 

"Live Jesus and Mary, Michael, Teresa, Magdalene 
of Pazzi and Aloysius !" 

These were the rules which the servant of God laid 
down for his conduct in life. In the simplicity with 
which they are composed, there appears true greatness 
of mind ; and in spite of many gaps which Gerard has 
left, by omitting the connecting links in the construc- 
tion of his sentences, we can still recognize the harmony 
of desires, aims and affections which controlled his 
heart. 



CHAPTEE XX. 

At Naples. 



Toward the end of July, 1754, Gerard was obliged to 
leave the solitude of Caposele, to repair to Pagani. 
Father Margotta, the Procurator of the Congregation, 
who spent the greater part of the year at Naples, was 
in need of a ley-brother, and accordingly Gerard had 
to replace Brother Francesco Tartaglione whose services 
were required elsewhere. Father Margotta highly 
esteemed Gerard and appealed to St. Alphonsus that the 
servant of God might be his assistant. 

The saintly Founder, appreciating the holy friend- 
ship that existed between Father Margotta and the 
brother, availed himself of the opportunity to recom- 
pense, in some measure, the severely tried brother, by 
a special mark of confidence. Hence he appointed the 
servant of God to the office. 

This arrangement afforded the greatest consolation 
to Father Margotta, and it was not less pleasing to 
Brother Gerard. He felt himself amply recompensed 
for the humiliations and trials which he had suffered, 
in being permitted to spend some time in the company 
of this most exemplary priest. 

Father Margotta was Gerard's equal in virtue. In 
many things he bore great resemblance to St. Alphonsus. 
His early career was like that of the holy Founder. 
Born February 10th., 1699, at Calitri, of respectable 
parents, he was reared a devout Christian by >his 
mother, having lost his father at a very early age. 
When a child, he plainly exhibited his inclination to 
piety, and gave all those marks of future sanctity 
about which we are accustomed to read in the lives of 
great Saints. He studied at the capital of the kingdom 



324 AT NAPLES. 

with so much success that at the age of sixteen he 
finished his course in philosophy. He had suffered 
nothing from the seductive charms of the city ; he re- 
mained innocent and free from the vices to which 
students are usually addicted, and was an ardent lover 
of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In his demea- 
nor he was modest, and his whole conduct made him 
a model for the youth of Naples. 

After the examinations, which he passed most brilli- 
antly, and after having through dispensation on account 
of age received the degree of doctor, he returned to 
his native place. 

Talented as he was, the Avorld offered him honors and 
earthly joys. Had he so desired he might have tasted 
abundantly of that which the world calls happiness. But 
his mind was already turned from what is earthly, and 
was directed to higher things. A daughter of the Capucci 
family in Lacedogna had been offered him in marriage ; 
but he promptly refused. His earnest inclination be- 
came so manifest that as soon as he had been appoin- 
ted governor of Andretta, a position of great import- 
ance, one of his officers jokingly remarked : "Let us 
hope for good things, since now we have a Capuchin 
for our governor." 

Indeed, Margotta's life as governor was not very 
different from that of a religious. Justice, charity and 
piety were virtues which the inhabitants of Andretta 
could daily witness for their edification. On the other 
hand, his relatives painfully noticed that his own affairs 
were failing, and his financial condition began to create 
just alarm. His mother, therefore, persuaded him to 
resign his office at Andretta, and return to Calitri, to 
which he agreed. 

Marriage was again suggested, but Francis positively 
declined, declaring that he wished to have nothing to 
do with the world. 



AT NAPLES. 325 

All excursion to Bisaccia, where lie visited some rela- 
tives, brought him nearer to his vocation and enlighte- 
ned him thereon. 

About this time, there lived at this place a certain 
Don Cajetan Giuliani, a saintly priest a disciple of the 
venerable Father Anthony de Torres. He had spent 
a great portion of his life in giving missions, and had 
now retired into solitude where he wished to spend 
the last years of his life in attending to the affairs of 
his own soul, without however ceasing to give spiritual 
aid to a number of chosen penitents. 

The acquaintance which Margotta made at Bisaccia 
with this holy priest opened a new held of knowledge 
for him. Attracted by the sublimity of the service of 
God, he resolved to become a priest and was ordained, 
after due preparation, by the Archbishop of Conza, in 
1731. It was his sole aim to save souls and to work 
as much as possible in the vineyard of the Lord. In 
order to labor with greater blessing in the confessional 
and in the pulpit, he joined the Congregation of 
missionaries of Father Pavone, in which he devoted 
himself to his vocation as a "holy priest, holy confessor, 
and holy missionary." 

When the foundation at Caposele was established by 
the Congregation, he donated a considerable sum of 
money out of his patrimony. He joined the Congre- 
gation in 1747. 

As a Eedemptorist, he labored successfully in the 
missions as well as at home in the capacity of a director 
of souls. He was for all a shining light of virtue, 
especially in obedience and humility. The word of the 
Superior was for him God's word. He even joyfully 
rendered obedience to the lay-brothers. His obedience 
did not outdo his humility. He sought humiliations 
wherever he believed he could find them. His love for 
the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother of God 



326 AT NAPLES. 

justly entitled him to a place next to St. Alphonsus. 

Father Margotta labored indefatigably at his own 
perfection, and while Father Cafaro was alive he 
followed with great devotedness the guidance of this 
highly spiritual man. 

At the first General Chapter of the Congregation 
held in 1749, Father Margotta was chosen General 
Procurator of the Institute ; this office he filled till his 
death, which occurred on the 11th. of August, 1764, at 
Naples. 

As Procurator, he lived in the house of Don Hercules 
de Liguori, the brother of St. Alphonsus, a part of 
whose home was arranged as lodgings for the Founder's 
spiritual sons. It was here that Gerard, accompanied 
by Father Francis Margotta resided, upon his arrival 
in Naples. 

It was the first time that Gerard had ever visited the 
famous city. Yet it did not distract his recollec-tedness 
and his tranquillity of mind. He continued to live the 
life he had led at Iliceto, and though he could no longer 
wander through the fields and the little towns of 
Apulia, being obliged to pass by grand palaces, and 
through the thickly populated streets of a noisy capi- 
tal, this outward change produced no alteration in his 
interior. "Among the curiosities of the capital," says 
Father Tannoja, "his mind did not become dissipated; 
on the contrary, it is safe to admit that he became 
t- ven more absorbed in God." 

The palace in which he and Father Margotta were 
quartered was for him a continual reminder that in the 
great city he should not forget that which, amid the 
noise of human cares, is too often cast aside. Every- 
thing in this house reminded him of the virtues, the 
first combats, the ardent prayers, the penances and 
the acts of charity of his revered Father, St. Alphonsus. 

These two holy souls so vied with each other in ac- 



AT NAPLES. 327 

quiring virtue that it was highly pleasing to God. 
The zeal of the one inflamed that of the other ; neither 
■wished to be outdone. 

As business was not very pressing, it Avas possible 
for them to devote considerable time to the exercise of 
prayer. For Father Margotta and for Gerard this was 
certainly a happy contingency of which they made the 
best use. 

The former was frequently seen before the altar. He 
usually performed his devotions in the church of the 
Oratorians. He celebrated Holy Mass there, and was 
often on his knees absorbed in prayer for hours ; some- 
times he spent part of the night in meditation, and in 
visiting our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. 

That in these things the saintly brother could be, 
and Avished to become his rival, can easily be imagined. 
We knoAv his intense love for prayer, meditation and 
the Blessed Sacrament. After having attended to 
necessary affairs in the city, and having finished his 
work in the kitchen, he spent the rest of the time in 
works of piety, and visited the different sacred shrines 
and monuments of the churches in the city. Often, he 
remained in one church for half days, hidden in a cor- 
ner, or stretched out on the floor. The usual witnesses 
of these long inteiwiews Avith our Lord AA r ere the church 
of the Holy Ghost and that of the Oratorians. 

The fact that the devotion of the Forty Hours con- 
tinued AA'ithout interruption in the different churches 
of Naples during the year, each one in its turn, was 
a cause of great joy to him. This gave him an oppor- 
tunity daily to visit our Lord exposed in the Blessed 
Sacrament, and to find material and strength for his 
meditations. Frequently, Father Margotta and Gerard 
Avould go to the church where this devotion was in pro- 
gress, and AA^ould sometimes become so Avrapt in a certain 
ecstatic condition that the time for returning home 



328 AT NAPLES. 

was greatly protracted. They usually visited those 
places where indulgences could be gained. Stimulated 
by the fervor and zeal of Father Margotta, Gerard led 
a life which, as Father Tamioja saj's, appeared to him 
"•paradise." What he wrote at this time to Eipacan- 
dida perfectly evinces such a frame of mind: "I am 
.staying here at Naples," he says, "in the company of 
Father Margotta, and can now more than ever recreate 
my heart ii) intercourse with God." (Ora piu chc mai 
me la scialo col caro mio Dip). 

Not only in the love of God and in His service, but 
also in practices of penance and self-denial, did these 
holy men vie with each other. According to Father 
Tannoja's account, Father Margotta clad in a hair-shirt 
and wearing little iron chains Avent to Naples like one 
crucified ; frequently he slept on the bare floor, scour- 
ged himself most severely, and was so little concerned 
about the nourishment of his body that he very often 
forgot all about it." 

But in all these things, Gerard imitated Jam in the 
most perfect manner. He also tortured his body with 
hair-shirts, scourged himself unmercifully, used the 
hard floor as his couch, and cared very little for neces- 
sary food. It often happened that because the Superior 
had forgotten to arrange a bill of fare, both had to 
remain hungry. When one day Father Margotta came 
home about dinner-time and asked his companion what 
he had prepared for dinner, the latter answered in his 
usual good humor: "My dear Father, just what you 
yourself have prepared." He wished to say that nothing 
was ready. 

In view of such a Superior and such a lay-brother, 
a biographer of Gerard is quite correct in stating: "The 
life led by Father Margotta and Brother Gerard Mas 
an uninterrupted fast ; they satisfied only their hunger 
for God." 



AT NAPLES. 32£ 

As regards self-denial, Father Margotta went so far 
that he not only had the greatest regard for poverty, 
so that every new garment had to be forced upon him, 
but he often went like a beggar to the convent gates 
and there asked for alms, without noticing the ridicule 
to which he was thereby exposed. 

In this the servant of God also faithfully followed 
his example. The lazzaroni of Naples are well known 
as not belonging to the class of well-dressed people. 
They could nevertheless laugh at him and joke about 
his cassock when he happened to pass by them, so 
wretched an appearance did it present. To beg at the 
Convent door was likewise entirely according to his taste, 
and thus he appeared sometimes alone, sometimes 
accompanied by Father Margotta, at the door of the 
convent of the Oratorians, to obtain some bread, with 
the rest of the beggars. And he would gladly have 
continued this manner of life if it had not been for- 
bidden by his Superior, who heard of what he was 
doing. 

Even after this prohibition, occasions for the practice 
of self-denial were not wanting. One day he chanced 
to be in the Avorkshop of a carver, a friend of his, when 
there entered one of those odd beings in whom are 
combined good nature, rascality and rudenes common- 
ly known as lazzaroni. The man immediatly began to 
annoy the good brother. He went up to him, over- 
whelmed him with all kinds of rude familiarities, put his 
fingers over his eyes and nose, and accompanied this 
buffoonery with the words: "Ah! indeed how beauti- 
ful you are!" Gerard remained quite indifferent, but 
those Who were present felt themselves grossly insulted 
by the behavior of this wicked fellow, and would have 
handled him roughly, had not the servant of God inter- 
ceded for him and retained them from giving expression 
to their outraged feelings, at least until the man was 



330 AT NAPLES. 

able to escape. "Oh," said Gerard, "it does not matter; 
I am a sinner ; I am a wretch. The man wished to 
have a little sport with me." 

The workshop in which this scene was enacted was 
a place in which Gerard spent many an hour, and spent 
it we might say, with great devotion. He had one day 
come to this place, where he saw how crucifixes and 
images of 'Ecce homo' were made of 'papier niache.' 
He immediately experienced a lively desire to acquire 
the art of carving ; and as the master, who, as we have 
said, was a friend of the Congregation, showed his 
willingness to teach him this kind of work. The ser- 
vant of God took a few lessons, in which, he was so 
successful that in a short time he learned the art fully. 
Ever after, and until his death, he made images of our 
Lord which he used to distribute. 

The life of the servant of God at Naples was not al- 
together a quiet one. He could not have remained a 
long time without some external occupation. Wher- 
ever there is fire, light and warmth issue, latent though 
they be. 

As Father Margotta had already found in a short 
time a small sphere of apostolic activity, so did Gerard 
find one that was suited to him without being obliged 
to seek for one very long. In the city there were many 
poor people and also many sinners. 

The former Father Margotta cared for chiefly ; he 
was so full of compassion that he not unfrequently 
gave away his own most necessary articles of clothing. 
While walking through the city one day he met an un- 
fortunate man who was the picture of misery. As he 
could not offer the assistance which the man's needs 
required, he took off his shoes, gave them to him, and 
walked home bare-foot. 

How Gerard competed with his master in this re- 
spect, the following incident will show. Brother Fran- 



AT NAFLES. 331 

cis Tartaglione, ayIio, after the arrival of the two Ke- 
demptorists had left his quarters, again returned to 
stay for a longer time. As Father Margotta was ab- 
sent, he gave his companions some money with which 
to buy some provisions and to prepare dinner. Gerard 
therefore went to the city to make the purchases, but 
on the way met a man miserably clad, a vender of flint 
stones and tinder, which in later days are substituted by 
matches. The look of sympathy cast on him by Gerard 
might have encouraged the man to address the lay- 
brother and to ask him to have compassion on him, as 
he was well nigh dying of starvation. The pitiable 
sight made Gerard forget to buy bread and fish, and 
instead to purchase the poor vender's whole stock. 
Brother Francis had in the meantime attended to some 
business in the city. When he came home, he asked 
Gerard about the food which he supposed was prepared. 
Instead therefore of answering the question, he em- 
braced the brother and said joyfully: "Ah! why so 
many cares? God alone, and nothing else!" "Very 
well," said Tartaglione, "but Ave should now think 
about getting something to eat." He noticed the flint 
stones and tinder that were lying on the table. "What 
is that?" he asked. "My dear brother," answered 
Gerard, "all this can be of no use to us. But I must 
tell you plainly what happened. When I went out to 
buy the eatables, a poor man met me. He had these 
things for sale, and was nearly dying of hunger. I 
could not help it; I had to buy the things with the money 
which you gave me." This answer was certainly not 
adapted to satisfy the hungry brother, who Avas asking 
for his dinner. He, hoAvever, concealed his displeasure, 
and could do so very easily since the great charity of 
the servant of God elicited his admiration. Mean- 
time Father Margotta had also returned home, and 
Gerard of course hastened to inform him of what had 



332 AT NAPLES. 

happened. Especially had he to communicate to him 
that he presupposed his permission to give those alms. 
The Superior smiled. "But, "what shall we have for 
dinner?" "God will provide," answered Gerard. And 
in fact, while they were conversing and the time for 
dinner had arrived, the door-bell rang. "That's the 
help for which we are waiting," cried out Gerard, over- 
joyed, and hastened to the door, accompanied by 
Father Margotta. Here they found a servant-girl 
with a basket full of eatables, which a woman, who 
was not even known to the two Redemptorists, had 
sent. One may imagine with what gratitude and 
astonishment this gift was accepted, as it appeared to 
be a manifest reward for the charity of the servant of 
God shown to the poor and a divine approval of his 
good work. 

Not onty upon the poor, but also upon the sick, did 
the holy brother bestow special care. A glimpse which 
he had occasion to get of the interior of the hospital 
for incurables at Naples enkindled his sympathy. 
He believed he could not devote too much time to 
consoling these suffering members of Christ. He often 
visited these poor incurables, went from bed to bed, 
spoke of patience, of the merit of sufferings, of resig- 
nation to the will of God, or of the joys of heaven. To 
the dying he exhibited a greater measure of charity, 
and with most wonderful skill, prepared them for death 
and for their journey into eternity. To the spiritual 
works of mercy he alwajs joined various kind atten- 
tions. He made up the beds of the sick, helped to 
wash and bind up their wounds, and offered them food 
and drink. He would have been delighted to make 
these visits every day, if the regulations of the hospital 
permitted him ; at least he never failed to avail himself 
of the days on which he was allowed to visit these 
suffering people. 



AT NAPLES. 333 

Besides the incurables, the compassionate brother 
displayed special charity and care in behalf of that 
class of sick persons who are the least attractive, most 
despised and neglected, and who very often create 
disgust and fear. These were the insane. We do not 
know how the servant of God procured admission into 
the large insane asylum of the city. His biographers 
merely tell us that he often visited it, and that his 
visits frequently resulted in wonderful success. It was 
a touching sight to witness how Gerard treated 
these unfortunate people, how he conversed with them 
according to their powers of comprehension, and endea- 
vored to work upon their disturbed minds in a salutary 
way, by quietly cheering and gently encouraging them. 
Sometimes he gathered them around himself, instructed 
them as far as it was possible, taught them how to in- 
voke God and the Saints, and labored to awaken in 
them docility and obedience towards their overseers 
and nurses. Such charity exercised the most favorable 
influence over the insane. In a short time Gerard was 
the most welcome visitor, and the insane gathered 
around him as children gather around their mother. 
Those whose minds where less affected gave expression 
to their pleasure by the nattering words: "Dear 
Father, you give us much consolation ; we should very 
much like to be with you always ; do not leave us !" 
"We do not wish you to go away," they often cried out 
when he was leaving them, "for the things which you 
tell us no one else tells us. Your mouth is a heavenly 
mouth ; we wish to hear you speak always." Some- 
times Gerard carried with him sweets or fruit which he 
distributed among them in order to make them more 
docile and obedient. 

Still, the attachment of these lunatics might once 
have proved fatal. After an interview with them, during 
which it appears he had greatly pleased them, he 



334 AT NAPLES. 

wished to depart, when two of theni rushed forward, 
and, each one seizing one of Gerard's arms, held it so 
fast that the latter could not move a step. "No, no, no ! 
we do not wish you to go away; no, no, no!" the crazy 
men shouted, and embraced him still more closely. 
Their affection became yet stronger, — their joy, the joy 
of crazy people, knew no bounds ; and thus the brother 
was exposed to the danger of being crushed or strang- 
led. Fortunately, another crazy man came to the 
rescue. Striking his two companions a few vigorous 
blows with his fist, he exclaimed in a voice of authority : 
"Stop, that! you are too familiar with the confessor of 
the crazy people." This had the desired effect. A few 
kind words of advice given by Gerard made a good 
impression, and thus enabled him to go away without 
being further annoyed. 

At Naples, as indeed everywhere, the favorite business 
of the servant of God was to go in search of sinners 
and convert them. This kind of work he performed 
with great zeal, particularly since Father Margotta 
preceded him as a shining example. The latter, though 
intending to remain at the capital but a short time was 
very soon actively engaged in behalf of souls and used 
every effort to bring sinners back to the path of virtue. 
That he was a most exellent instrument in God's hands 
is proved from the following occurrence, related of him 
while staying at the capital. Walking by a palace, he 
one day heard an interior voice saying to him : "Go 
into the palace and tell its owner that he should amend 
his life ; if he will not do so, God's anger will visit 
him." Filled with supernatural courage, Father Mar- 
gotta entered the magificently furnished house, and 
did as he had been told. His appearance as well as 
his threat, uttered by a higher command, had the 
desired effect. The sinner became greatly agitated, 



AT NAPLES. 335 

yielded to the inspiration of grace, and showed himself 
ready to begin a life worthy of a Christian. 

Father Margotta was as zealous as Gerard. He 
threw out his net wherever it was possible, and "scarce- 
ly a day passed," says Father Tannoja, "on which he 
did not see his labors rewarded." He frequently en- 
tered the shops on his way, especially those of book- 
sellers and printers, who were friends of the Fathers, 
and endeavored to win by his kindness, and to inflame 
with virtue, the young people whom he met there, 
especially those of the working classes. If he found 
any young man whose soul was ailing, he would never 
lose sight of him, and kindly importuned him until the 
latter had become reconciled with God. Those who 
had been gained over and converted usually entered 
his service as apostles, and strove to lead to the ser- 
vant of God their own relatives and acquaintances, as 
they wished them to experience the happiness which 
they themselves enjoyed. This caused one of Gerard's 
biographers to remark that our house at Naples during 
Gerard's stay was an "anticamera della penitenza," (an 
anti-chamber of penance) and that Father Margotta 
had often the great pleasure to receive from the hands 
of the brother, repentant souls whom he led into the 
arms of our Lord. 

Gerard's look into the interior of consciences was the 
first lever which divine grace applied to remove the 
stone of guilt from the heart of man. One day the 
servant of God was in a shop in which rosaries, medals, 
and other articles of devotion were sold. At the same 
time there was an ecclesiastic named Francis Colella 
in the shop. When the vender saw the two ecclesiastics 
before him, he began an edifying and pious discourse, 
for it was peculiar to him to wish to dispose of his 
piety rather than of his rosaries. As to his piety how- 
ever, things were in a bad state, and his life was very 



336 AT NAPLES. 

unlike that which lie so much praised. After the servant 
of God had listened for some time to the shopkeeper, 
he made a sign to him as if he had something to tell 
him in private, and led him aside. Here he rebuked 
him severely on account of his hypocritical behavior 
and made known to him a very grievous sin which 
burdened his conscience, and of which no one had any 
knowledge except God and himself. Gerard then 
withdrew, leaving the poor sinner in a condition of 
salutary fear. The latter however, after having some- 
what recovered from his fright, turned to Colella and 
said : "This Father must be a great servant of God." 
"What did he say to you?" asked Colella. "Alas!" 
answered the shopkeeper, "I am almost beside'myself ; 
he revealed to me a sin of which only God and I have had 
any knowledge," It need scarcely be mentioned that 
this man's conversion was effected. 

While the servant of God was distributing with a 
liberal hand the gifts of his charity, he Mas also mind- 
ful of rendering his charitable aid in a most desirable 
manner to him who had the best claim thereto, to 
Father Margotta. 

This saintly priest again suffered most keenly under 
the pressure of interior trials. Several months had 
already elapsed during which his soul was immersed in 
darkness. His heart was without consolation or joy ; 
his will was without energy, and his heart full of sad- 
nes. Gerard felt great compassion for the Father, 
expecially since his trials where not unknown to him. 
He therefore consoled and encouraged him in every 
possible way. And, according to what Father Margotta 
himself acknoAvledged to Father de Rubertis, the 
brother was admirably successfull. 

With absolute help naturally, he could not furnish 
him, as he expressly told him. One day when Father 
Margotta was more than usually depressed in spirits, 



at Naples. 337 

he addressed these words to Gerard : "Come, let us 
go to St. George's to see Brother Cosimo, and beseech 
him to obtain for me some consolation from our Lady 
of Power" (delist Potenza). (He referred to the great- 
ly venerated miraculous picture in the church of 
the "Pii operarii.") "Yes," answered Gerard, "let us 
go, but you will not receive this grace." They visited 
St. George's, the venerable Brother Cosimo was seen 
and his prayers asked, but after Father Margotta had 
returned home, he was sadder and his spirits more 
depressed than before. We shall, however, see that the 
servant of God was still able to complete this work of 
consolation in behalf of Father Margotta. 

As Gerard in this case displayed his knoAvledge of 
the future, so he also proved about this time that 
things at a distance Avere not wholly kept from his 
sight. We may still remember the Archpriest Felix 
Coccicone, who had baptized our saintly brother. He 
had a brother named Frank who had followed him in 
the dignity of Archpriest, and who was greatly 
esteemed at Muro. This good Man was one day 
murdered in the public street. On the same day Gerard 
mentioned this sad occurrence to three of his country- 
men. "Gerard," one of them related, "used to come 
to me towards evening to say the beads with me. One 
evening he appeared to be very much downcast. I 
asked him what was the matter, and he said : 'My 
dear Pascal, our good Archpriest Coccicone was 
murdered at Muro.' 'That is not possible,' I said, 
'since by yesterday's mail I received a letter from 
Muro, and there is not a word in it about such an 
occurrence.' Gerard said: 'There is not the least doubt, 
my dear friend, it is so.' In fact the subsequent mail 
brought me the sad information. To my greatest as- 
tonishment I found that Gerard knew of it the very 
same day on which it happened." 



338 AT NAPLES. 

Two or three clays previous (the murder at Muro oc- 
curred on the 14th. of October 1754) on the 11th. or 12th., 
the servant of God was at recreation when he cried out 
suddenly : "Our Father Latessa has just entered para- 
dise." Father Angelo Latessa, a very worthy son of 
St. Alphonsus departed this life at Caposele on the 
5th. of October. Eight days after his death, Gerard 
saw his soul translated to heaven. 

Though he desired to remain unknown in the city, 
yet he failed in his efforts to conceal himself. His 
virtues, his charity towards his neighbor, his natural 
as well as his supernatural qualities attracted the at- 
tention of men everywhere, and won for him friends 
and admirers. 

Father Margotta visited the different convents at 
Naples' very often ; he generally took Gerard with him. 
A word from the servant of God was sufficient to make 
every one entertain the greatest respect for him. Thus 
it happened with the "Pious Workmen," the Oratorians. 
and the Jesuit Fathers. 

About this time there was a member of the Society 
of Jesus at Naples as famous for his learning and sanc- 
tity of life, as for his zeal in guiding souls. This was 
Father Francis Pepe. He became specially attached 
to the servant of God, and after he had become ac- 
quainted with his extraordinary gifts, he frequently 
conversed with him for hours about spiritual things. 
Father Pepe received from the Pope, Benedict XI Y., 
the most extensive powers in regard to the application 
of indulgences, and as he was anxious to apply them 
in the best manner, and for the good of truly worthy 
souls, he desired that Gerard should take upon him- 
self a part of this good work, and transferred to him 
the power to distribute a certain number of these in- 
dulgences according to his own judgment. Consequent- 
ly Gerard could, at his own pleasure, grant indulgences 



AT NAPLES. 339 

to all those who frequently received Holy Communion 
or who daily visited the Blessed Sacrament, as' also to 
those who specially venerated the Blessed Virgin by 
visiting her image, or who fasted on Saturdays. By 
virtue of this power he coxild likewise procure for 
priests the indulgences of "a privileged altar." 

What astonished priests and religious, and filled all 
with the greatest respect for Gerard was his wonderful 
knowledge. To hear the simple lay-brother speaking 
with the intelligence of an experienced teacher about 
the most sublime mysteries of our religion, made the 
deepest impression. After the fame of this gift had 
spread among the piiests of the city, he was often tested 
severely ; the result, however, was always in his favor, 
and not unfrequently discomfited those who urged by 
charitable motives had begun to dispute with him. 
Ccelestine de Rubertis sa}~s: "I happened to be at Naples 
one day when there came to us an ecclesiastic who 
was just then engaged in the study of the treatise on 
the Blessed Trinity, and who began a conversation 
with the brother on this subject. He brought forward 
one difficult point after another — for instance, the 
generation of the Word, the co-eternity of the Word 
with the Father, the Procession of the Holy Ghost 
from both. Brother Gerard answered all these ques- 
tions as accurately as a thoroughly trained theologian. 
I was astonished at his successful treatment of every 
objection, as well as at the ease and clearness with 
which he expressed himself. Nothing could disconcert 
the brother ; on the contrary, the good priest found it 
difficult not to become entrapped in his own snares." 

In the course of time Gerard became the talk of the 
city, and ere long our house was visited by persons of 
all ranks. W'hile some were desirous of having an in- 
terview with the brother only through curiosity, others 
wished to procure from him advice and consolation, or 



340 AT NAPLES. 

to manifest to him their interior, and to ask his assist- 
ance to make a good confession. 

Gerard was held in high esteem and greatly vener- 
ated by Don Paul di Majo, who was living at Naples 
at that time, was distinguished for his artistic skill. 

Noble women and ladies of the highest rank did not 
hesitate to seek the advice of the poor lay-brother, in 
affairs of conscience. Donna Eleonora Sanfelice, 
duchess of Ascoli, who had known him in Apulia, be- 
came everywhere the panegyrist of his virtues. Her 
zeal and enthusiasm however, brought upon the brother 
only troubles and caused his humility innumerable 
annoyances. Servants of different places came to ask 
the permission of Father Margotta to allow the brother 
to visit the palace of their masters, where he was honor- 
ed as a saint, and consulted as a confessor. Even 
though the servant of God may have refused many of 
these requests and frequently excused himself, yet 
there were reasons which he had to consider and in 
view of which he had to bow his head and quietly ac- 
cept what was so unpleasant to him. 

One day he was alone at home, when a knock was 
heard at the door. The messenger was a servant in 
rich livery, who informed him that his mistress, the 
dutchess de Maddaloni, requested that Brother Gerard 
should visit her. Gerard at once noticed that the ser- 
vant did not know him, mid believed therefore that he 
could escape so unpleasant an affair. He contracted 
his lips to a very contemptuous smile and said : "I 
cannot understand why people should always want to 
see this brother, for he, I must acknowledge, is a block- 
head and a half-witted fellow." AVith this answer he 
dismissed the servant, who delivered the remark 
faithfully to her ladyship, adding that he had received 
it from the lips of the porter himself. From the cir- 
cumstances narrated, the duchess could easily discover 



AT NAPLES. 341 

that the very ' uncivil porter was the servant of God 
himself, whose humility was offended and who had 
spoken so disparagingly of himself. But as she had 
excellent reasons for seeing the brother, and wished to 
recommend to him her little daughter who was serious- 
ly ill, she went next morning to the church of the Holy 
Ghost, which Gerard usually visited. She was already 
in the church Avhen Gerard entered it, and she hastened 
towards him, for her maternal solicitude would not 
allow any delay. She at once implored him to ask 
of God the restoration of her child's health. Gerard 
turned his eyes towards the tabernacle, and pointing 
to it said: "There is One who distributes favors!" 
"Yes, through Him, but also through you shall I be 
able to obtain this favor," answered the distressed 
mother, full of confidence. Gerard, however, honored 
this confidence by promising that he would pray for 
the welfare of the child. The duchess remained in the 
church for a short time, engaged in prayer. Shortly 
after her maid came, and in great joy informed her that 
the sickness of her daughter had suddenly taken a 
change for the better ; that she had risen from bed ; 
in fact that she appeared to be quite well. The time 
of this change coincided exactly with the moment when 
Gerard promised the duchess that he would pray for 
her child. We may imagine with what joy the happy 
mother hastened home in order to embrace her child 
that had been so wonderfully cured, and we shall be 
able to understand that she thenceforward esteemed 
the sanctity of the brother more highly than before. 

Though occurrences of this kind produced a great 
sensation in many places, the miracle performed by 
the servant of God in the presence of a great crowd of 
people, by which the lives of several persons were 
saved created still greater sensation and joyous excite- 
ment in all Naples. 



342 AT NAPLES. 

On a very stormy day in autumn, Gerard, while 
attending to some business, came near the sea-shore, 
and noticed at a distance a great crowd of people, who 
were shouting and making violent gestiires expressive 
of terror and anguish. Soon there was presented to 
his sight a traly deplorable spectacle. On the waves, 
lashed by a storm, was a boat in imminent danger of 
capsizing and being lost. Although it was within sight 
of land, the boat could not be brought to the shore on 
account of the breakers. The cries of distress of those 
in the boat as well as the shouts of the spectators on 
the land, who could furnish no help, excited the great- 
est compassion in Brother Gerard. But what could 
he do ? He reflected for a few moments, threw his cloak 
back over his shoulders, signed himself with the sign 
of the Cross, and rushed into the water in the direction 
of the boat. The waves which threw the boat about 
like a ball did not seem to hinder him. "In the name 
of the Most Blessed Trinity, stop !" he cried out to the 
boat, while he stretched out his hands towards it, and, 
behold ! it stood still so that Gerard could take hold of 
it. As if it were a piece of light wood, he drew it after 
him, and thus brought it safely to shore. The immi- 
nent danger of the persons on board, the unheard-of 
and hazardous undertaking of the brother, who all at 
once was seen struggling in the midst of the Avaves, had 
at first attracted the attention of all the spectators. 
But as soon as the anxiety and fright had given way 
to reflection, and the people began to realize what a 
wonderful deed had been accomplished, there came 
from the multitude a storm of applause and an outburst 
of admiration. "A miracle, a miracle ! He is a saint! 
— where is the saint? God! what a miracle." "Whilst, 
however, all were moving towards the servant of God, 
and in doing so were hindering and crowding one 
another, he managed to escape. Before they were 



AT NAPLES. 343 

able to seize him, lie had slipped into the workshop 
of a man with whom he was acquainted, in order to 
avoid the demonstrations of the people. The noise 
made by the latter, the search for the performer of 
miracles and the manifestations of joy continued for a 
long time, compelling him to remain in hiding till 
evening. 

Upon returning home, he was asked by Father 
Margotta how it had been possible for him to draw the 
boat to the shore. He answered in his simplicity : "0 
my Father, if God wishes He can do every thing !" In 
answer to the same question, he said to Father Oajone 
in the presence of Doctor Santorelli : "I seized the 
boat with two of my fingers and drew it to the shore." 
"No doubt you must have been very warm," said the 
Doctor, "to take so cold a bath." Gerard answered, 
hinting at his ecstatic condition : "In the condition in 
which I then found myself, I could also have arisen 
into the air." 

. The day after this event, Canon Bozzio arrived at 
the capital and naturally paid a visit to his saintly 
friend. Both then took a walk through the city. "While 
walking together, they noticed an ecclesiastic, who, 
pointing to the lay -brother, said to those around him : 
"Oh ! there is the one who plunged into the sea yester- 
day !" Gerard felt very much annoyed at these words; 
he thought in spite of what had occurred on the sea- 
shore he was yet unknown ; he was disappointed. 

He hastened his steps. Bozzio, unable to keey pace 
with him cried out: "Why do you not wait for me? 
stop !" But Gerard walked faster. Several lazzaroni 
who had noticed him also recognized him, and began 
to shout: "There, there is the saint! See! there is the 
saint!" The Canon, who did not know what these en- 
thusiastic outcries signified, made inquiries and learned 
from the lips of these people the history of the wonder- 



34-i AT NAPLES. 

fill saving of the boat. Meanwhile Gerard had escaped. 

The excitement which was elicited by this last mir- 
acle of the servant of God was so great that it could 
not but cause considerable disturbance in Gerards quiet 
home at Naples. The number of visitors who wished 
to see the worker of miracles increased day by day. 
Gerard was inconsolable on this account, for his humil- 
ity was painfully wounded thereby. He anxiously 
wished to be in a secluded house of the Congregation, 
in order to be free from the looks, questions and honors 
of the Neapolitans, although in regard to this matter 
he was resignation personified. "My will," he wrote, 
"is entirely in the hands of the Superiors ; they may 
do with me what they please ; I shall always be satis- 
fied." 

Though Father Margotta believed that a great part 
of his interior peace and quiet was owing to the pres- 
ence of this holy friend and brother yet he saw that 
the stay of Gerard at the capital would draw to a close. 
He scrupled to permit him to be exposed in no un- 
common a degree to a continual temptation to vanity, 
and therefore begged St. Alphonsus to recall the holy 
brother from Naples. The Hector Major complied 
with his request, and designated Caposele as the fur- 
ther dwelling-place of Gerard. 

This removal was a most joyful event for the servant 
of God. In his humility he believed that he was doing 
good nowhere and sighed for solitude. "O my God," 
he wrote to Eipacandida before his departure from 
the capital, "I am loosing my time. O what a misfor- 
tune ! I permit so many moments, hours and days to 
pass uselessly, and do not understand how to derive 
profit therefrom. Alas! what a loss! may God forgive 
me ! . . . . But now I shall retire to please my God, and 
I shall ask Him to restrain me that I may not be able 
to leave the house. I hope that He will hear my prayer." 



AT NAPLES. 345 

This hope was not fully realized. In the early part 
of November Gerard left Naples where he had spent 
more than three months, and repaired to his place of 
destination, Caposele. 



CHAPTEK XXI. 

The Porter. 



The servant of God was near the close of his career. 
Only ten months more, and this beautiful star, which 
shone more brilliantly the higher it arose above the 
horizon, was, according to God's decree, to finish its 
course and disappear from the sight of the pilgrims of 
earth. On his way to Caposele the brother had a 
presentiment of his approaching end. He therefore 
redoubled his zeal in the practice of every virtue during 
his stay at the convent of that town. 

The happiness to be subject to a Superior who was 
not only an able man in the office which he filled, but 
who was capable of exercising the most salutary in- 
fluence over him, — accompanied him also to Caposele. 

It is true, here he no longer found his paternal guide, 
Father Giovenale, who had been his Superior at the 
time of his trial. His place, was, however, supplied 
by a man who was not inferior to him in virtue and 
ability. He, like Father Cafaro and Father Fiocchi, 
was an ornament and pillar of the Congregation. 

Father Caspar Cajone was born on the 4th. of August 
1722, at Troy, an episcopal see in the kingdom of Naples. 
Originally, his plan of life was to devote himself to the 
service of the State, but this plan was entirely changed 
when he was only twenty-four years old. The change was 
brought about by a mission which was given at Troy 
by St. Alphonsus, whose name was held in high esteem 
at Naples at that time. In the process of beatification 
of St. Alphonsus, he testified as follows : "I attended 
the sermons of St. Alphonsus without having had the 
pleasure of enjoying closer acquaintance with him, and 



THE rORTER. 347 

I conceived a high idea of his sanctity. The poverty 
of his dress, his modesty, his uninterrupted interior 
recollection, the true apostolic zeal with which he 
preached the word of God, — all this filled me with the 
desire to bid farewell to the world." This desire, how- 
ever, was not realized till long after. In the year 1751, 
the young priest happened to read a little book entitled 
"Vocation to the Religious State," which had just been 
published by the saint. He read it, and while reading 
the former holy inspirations were not only renewed, 
but grace operated more efficaciously, and rent asun- 
the bond which still kept Cajone's heart tied to the 
world. A year after he began his novitiate, and entered 
upon the religious life with a manliness corres- 
ponding to his age and character, so that two years 
after his profession he appeared to be well fitted to 
exercise the office of Rector of Caposele, and in this 
capacity he rendered services to the Congregation for 
many years. At the General Chapter which St. Alphon- 
sus held at Nocera in 1764, he was General Consultor, 
which office he filled till his death. He founded the 
house at Benevento in 1779, and was its first Rector. 
An indefatigable laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, 
a wise counseller and a holy religious, strict, exact and 
prudent, he attained an advanced age and appeared at 
the process of beatification of his spiritual Father, 
Alphonsus. He died on the 30th. of October, 1809. 

It was this man who was to direct our saintly brother 
and to assist him in accomplishing the last part of his 
task. 

"The life which Gerard led at Caposele," says Father 
Tannoja, "was the same as at Iliceto. Always humble 
and patient, he was a friend of work, of recollection 
and of union with God. Every kind of office was 
agreeable to him ; whether he was employed in the 
kitchen, at baking bread, or attending to the door, he 



348 THE PORTER. 

discharged every duty with, holy indifference. "One 
can" he used to say, "please God and do His holy will 
in every office." Father Cajone testified that Gerard 
almost snatched the work from the hands of others. 
No matter how he felt, whether he was in good health 
or ailing, he was always at work. 

His principal occupation during the early part of 
his stay at Caposele was that of porter. 

How well-fitted he was to discharge this important 
office Ave know from what he said in regard to the keys 
that had been intrusted to him. "These keys," he said, 
"must open for me the gates of paradise." 

What pleased him particularly was the duty connec- 
ted with this office, to he the right hand of the Superior 
in dispensing alms, and to have the care of the beggars 
and other needy persons who usually appeared at the 
door. 

"Gerard," his biographer says, "was greatly pleased 
with the office which had been intrusted to him, because 
the care of the poor was connected with it. Our house 
was besieged by beggars every day and no mother 
could have shown more tender solicitude for her little 
ones than Gerard bestowed upon these poor people. 
He understood how to satisfy everyone ; the abuse and 
insolence which he had to suffer neither made him 
angry, nor robbed him of his usual affable manner. 
There were some poor persons who after having receiv- 
ed their share of alms came back a second time. Ger- 
ard noticed this, but he rejoiced that these people were 
calling forth his charity by their deceit. "Yes," he 
said, "they are thieves, but their deeds are the means 
of procuring pleasure to our Lord Jesus Christ." 

In order to excuse them he once said : "Our Lord 
Jesus Christ also steals — hearts !" (Anche Gesu Christo 
ruba i cuori.) He generally called them "my poor," 
or the "poor of Christ." Santorelli one day found 



THE PORTER. ?A\) 

fault with his great liberality, which appeared to him 
excessive, and said: "But you should make a distinc- 
tion and be satisfied with giving alms only to those 
who are really in want." "Not at all !" answered Ger- 
ard, "all must receive something, for all ask me in the 
name of Jesus Christ." 

That Gerard, however, knew how to discriminate 
according to the actual needs of the person is proved 
by the special interest he took in those poor persons 
who, being sick, could not come themselves, but sent 
their children or relatives to procure some food. 

Being sick, he considered them worthy of greater 
charity. He often went to the kitchen and selected 
better food than was usually given, that they might 
relish it, and did not hesitate to deprive himself of the 
necessary food to procure something more palatable 
for them. If he found nothing better for these poor 
sick persons, he obtained at least a piece of white bread 
and some cheese. Sometimes Gerard was also permitted 
to search the pantry and was delighted when he found 
some sweetmeats or raisins. He often said with great 
tenderness and delicay : "We must sacrifice everything 
for the poor ; the poor person is a time likeness of 
Jesus Christ." He once expressed the same thought 
more beautifully when he said : "The Most Blessed 
Sacrament is Christ made invisible ; the poor sick 
person is Christ again made visible." 

When he received permission, he also carried 
provisions to the houses of the sick poor ; then not 
only supplied them with abundant alms, but he also 
distributed medicine gratuitously and soothed their 
mental sufferings by words of charity and of heavenly 
consolation. 

"What he gave at the door," says Father Tannoja, 
speaking of the visits which Gerard paid to the dwel- 
lings of the poor, "was comparatively little. There 



350 THE PORTER. 

were many families that he supported, though they 
were uuable to visit him ; widows who had recourse to 
him, he relieved. He made most zealous efforts, and 
employed all attainable means, to obtain good situati- 
ons for poor girls, to protect them against danger, or 
to help them effect a suitable marriage." 

When there was question of the poor, he felt that he 
had a commission from divine Providence to supply 
them with every thing necessarry for their relief. Be- 
sides, we cannot deny that the Lord Himself only con- 
firmed him in this confidence and belief. 

One day dinner had already been prepared, when 
Gerard entered the kitchen with the vessels which he 
wished to replenish for the poor. The cook was, 
humanly speaking, no friend of the kindhearted father 
of the poor ; for the latter's liberality was of no benefit 
to him, and frequently caused him a great deal of em- 
barrassment. He therefore watched him very closely. 
The servant of God carefully scrutinized the dishes 
that had been prepared, and began to take what he 
thought he needed for the poor, till the cook losing all 
patience, said to him : "What are you doing? There 
will be nothing left for the community." Gerard 
answered : "God will provide ;" and kept on taking 
what he needed. "Now we shall see how this will end," 
said the cook petulantly, believing that what Avas left 
would not be sufficient to furnish the brethren with a 
dinner. When the time for dinner came, hoAvever, 
nothing Avas Avanting ; on the contrary, there Avas a 
superabundance, so that a considerable quantity Avas 
left for the poor. 

A porter so amiable, and so Avonderfully sustained 
by Providence was just then a necessity at Caposele. 
Not only Avas the Avinter Avhich Gerard spent there 
in the discharge of the duties of his office extremely 
cold, but as the harvest of the A-ear 1754 had been verv 



THE PORTER. 351 

unsatisfactory, famine ensued in December among the 
poorer class. The inhabitants of Caposele suffered 
much; consequently there was a large increase of 
beggars at the door of the convent. Every morning 
there appeared about two hundred, men, women, 
children and old men, in the most needy circumstances. 
Father Cajone, who witnessed this great misery with 
heartfelt compassion recommended these poor people 
to the porter, that he should take care of them, and 
said to him : "Brother, now you most think of every- 
thing. If these people are not liberally assisted they 
will die. I shall not restrict you, but I give permission 
for. every thing that we have in the house." 

Such an order needed no repetition ; such a permis- 
sion was not given in vain. The brother was soon en- 
gaged in relieving the large number of poor persons. 

These good people wretchedly clad, often half -naked, 
suffered greatly from the inclemency of the unusual 
weather. This evil Gerard sought above all to remedy 
according to his ability. By reason of the very general 
permission that had been granted, it was not a difficult 
matter for his inventive charity. He searched the 
whole house, especially the clothes-room; examined 
the old garments, had them mended and altered, if 
necessary. With these he clothed a considerable num- 
ber of the poor. As for his own apparel, he restricted 
himself to what was most necessary, in order to assist 
others. 

On account of the severe cold, it was no slight hard- 
ship for the poor to stand and wait in the vestibule of 
the convent. Thither Gerard often carried some wood, 
and made a fire at which the people could warm them- 
selves. 

The sight of delicate children who sometimes gath- 
ered around him trembling and crying, moved him to 
tears. "Alas ! we have sinned," he said, "and these 



352 THE PORTER. 

innocent little ones must suffer for our sins." He 
then took their little hands and warmed them in his 
own, while he represented to himself that he saw 
in these little children our Lord, Who Himself, though 
innocent, was obliged to suffer for our sins. 

The more the misery increased, the greater was his 
confidence in divine Providence. God's assistance was 
equal to Gerard's confidence. It happened more than 
once that sums of money of which no one had any 
knowledge, were found in the house, thus affording 
relief to the poor at the right time. "Three or four 
times," says Father Cajone, "Gerard himself brought 
me a considerable sum which he had found wrapped in 
paper, sticking in the key- hole of the large front door. 
Whence the money had come, who had brought it, was 
known only to God and Gerard." 

How much bread and other victuals the servant of 
God distributed at the door is incredible. "It was," 
says Father Tannoja, "the common opinion at Caposele, 
that bread was multiplied in his hands, and our own 
brethren have often experienced the fact. One of our 
students, Francis Siniscalchi, testified that he saw the 
baskets from which Gerard had just taken some bread, 
and which he had entirelj* emptied, suddenly rilled 
again with bread. Another student related that on 
opening a basket the contents of which had been dis- 
tributed, he found to his great astonishment that it 
was completely filled." 

One day the brother who had been entrusted with 
the care of providing bread for the community, dis- 
covered that Gerard had given all the bread that was 
on hand to the poor, and that there was not a crumb 
left for supper. The brother being very much displeased, 
he hurried to Father Rector's room, a few hours before 
supper-time and accused the servant of God of having 



THE PORTER. 353 

given to the poor all the bread, so that nothing was left 
for the community, although on the same day a Avhole 
oven of bread had been baked. Father Cajone immediate- 
ly sent for the culprit and called him to account in the 
presence of the accuser, remarking how imprudently 
lie had acted, since at the advanced hour a purchase of 
bread was impossible. Gerard modestly listened to 
the Rector and then said : "Your Reverence need not 
be afraid ; God will provide !" and turning to the lay- 
brother he continued : "My dear Brother, let us look 
more carefully to see whether any bread is left." "Not 
the least bit is here," the brother answered in an angry 
tone of voice, "and as you insist so much in asserting 
the contrary, come with me and I will prove what I 
say." Gerard followed the brother with the greatest 
humility, the latter walking rapidly towards the cup- 
board. While opening it, he said : "Noav look whether 
there is any bread left." The cupboard was opened, 
and it was found entirely filled with loaves of bread. 
"O may God always be praised!" exclaimed Gerard, 
when he saw this, arid immediately hurried to the 
church to give thanks to God. Meanwhile, the brother 
who had reproached the servant of God on account of 
his liberality, stood speechless with astonishment. In 
this state he was found by the Rector who had follow- 
ed to see what he could do to remedy the want. Won- 
dering at such an abundance of bread, he turned to the 
brother for an explanation: "O my Father," the latter 
answered, greatly moved, "Gerard is truly a saint. 
I wished to have him punished. When I went to see 
your Reverence there Avas not a loaf of bread in the 
cupboard, I assure you. After returning with brother 
Gerard, I found it quite full. My dear Father, no one 
•could have done this except Almighty God. Certainly 
it Avas God Avho did this." "Yes" ansAvered the Rector, 
'"it Avas God Avho did this. Let us therefore alloAV 



354 THE PORTER. 

Gerard to act as he pleases, for truly the Lord is play- 
ing a wonderful game with him." 

On another occasion, Gerard wished the poor to 
have a feast. He therefore called to his assistance 
some lay-brothers, and prepared macaroni for them, 
the favorite dish of the Italians. In a most cheerful 
frame of mind Gerard carried the food to them. The 
poor, however, were at this time more numerous than 
he had supposed, and the quantity contained in the 
vessel was not in proportion to the number of the in- 
vited. Yet the brother did not allow his happiness to 
be disturbed. He courageously distributed the food, 
tilled one plate after the other ; none was left unfilled ; 
and he put no restriction on his liberality. Neverthe- 
less, what had been prepared was not only sufficient, 
but there was some left, to the astonishment of all the 
lay-brothers who had assisted Gerard, and knew how 
much macaroni had been cooked. It was evident that 
it had been increased in the hands of the holy man. 

The frequent distribution of bread had, however, 
greatly diminished the supply of grain. Father Cajone 
was of opinion, that one should not tempt God, and 
wished therefore to limit Gerard's liberality. Hence 
he said to him one day : "Brother, you may give away 
all you wish, but the community should not suffer 
for what is necessary." Gerard answered : "Your 
Reverence need not be troubled. God, I confidently 
hope, will provide." "But, Brother," answered the 
Superior, "you seem to wish that miracles should al- 
ways be performed." He then went to the grain-loft, 
but found it so full that there was no necessity of an- 
ticipating want. Filled with wonder, and inwardly 
thanking God, he withdrew. 

"My dear Doctor," he said to Santorelli, who had 
just entered the house, "I am overwhelmed with aston- 
ishment. Our supply of grain was nearly exhausted. 



THE PORTER. 355 

To the complaints Avhich I made on this account to 
Gerard he answered in his usual manner, so full of 
confidence, 'God will provide !' I then went to in- 
spect the loft, and I found it abundantly supplied with 
grain. O Lord! I am ashamed at the sight of this 
power of miracles and of the virtues of our holy brother!" 
Not only did the necessaries of life which Gerard so 
charitably distributed among the poor appear to 
multiply in his hands, but there were cases in which it 
seemed as if they had been brought to him by invisible 
hands, or had actually been created in his own. The 
following is an example : Lorenzo Miniello of Caposele 
had two daughters whom he believed he could not sup- 
port during the time of famine and whom he therefore 
recommended to the charity of the servant of God. 
Gerard took special care of the girls ; for the thought 
that poverty might bring these poor creatures nearer 
to the death of the soul than of the body, was to his 
mind of the highest importance. One day the two 
girls arrived later than usual to obtain alms, after Ger- 
ard had distributed everything among the rest of the 
poor. Greatly grieved thereat, he began to reflect. 
Suddenly, going into the house and returning after a 
few moments, he carried in his hands two loaves of 
bread which looked as if they had just been taken 
from the oven. These he gave to the girls, who accep- 
ted them with the greatest amazement. They could not 
understand how things had happened. Having watch- 
ed him Avhen he entered the house, they did not re- 
mark that he procured the bread anywhere ; besides, 
the loaves had also a form different from that of the 
bread which was used in the convent. Convinced 
that a miracle had been wrought, and full of gratitude 
to God and His servant, they related the occurrence to 
iheir father, who made it everywhere known, to the 
greater honor of God. 



356 THE POUTER. 

Something similar happpened in the case of a 
respectable woman, who having become very poor, 
thought to have recourse to the charitable porter. 
Restrained by shame, she did not, however, dare to 
mingle with the poor Avlien Gerard was distributing 
food among them ; she remained in the vestibule, and 
was not observed by the servant of God. When the 
poor people left, he perceived her, but thought that 
she had not come as a person who was in want, and 
therefore took no further notice of her, for it was no 
extraordinary thing that persons who did not desire 
alms, and who wished only to see their distribution, 
should be standing near the door. It even happened 
that respectable and wealthy persons would send their 
children to mingle with the beggars, in order to receive 
from the hands of the saintly brother some bread, 
which was then preserved at home as a relic. A man, 
Theodore Clem, however, who was present and who 
was acquainted with the sad condition of this woman, 
noticing that Gerard would pass her by, drew his atten- 
tion to her and explained what she wanted. "0 God! 
why did she not tell me?" Gerard cried out in a tone of 
great compassion. After a few moments of reflection, 
he hurried into the house, and returning in a short 
time, drew forth from his breast-pocket a small loaf of 
fine white bread, still warm, and as if it had been just 
baked, and most kindly handed it to the distressed 
woman. This loaf of bread was also of a peculiar form, 
and when he brought it the house oven was empty and 
cold. 

In this manner, actuated by heroic charity and 
wonderfully sustained by divine Providence, the servant 
of God alleviated the miseries of many hundred poor 
persons during the famine, which lasted during January 
and February of 1755. 

While engaged in this charitable work he was always 



THE PORTEE. 357 

very cheerful. His heart was so full of gratitude to 
God that often very little was wanting to make it over- 
flow in rapturous delight. 

Philip Falcone was the most skillful flute-player and 
singer at Caposele. As a poor blind man he was one 
of the best friends of the porter at the convent of 
"Mater Domini," and Avas very often seen at its door. 
One day, when Falcone had, again come for his alms, 
Gerard said to him in an unusually joyful manner : 
"Play something." "What shall I play?" asked the 
blind man. "Play the hymn : 'II tuo gusto e non il mio 
— Voglio solo in te mio Dio,' etc. ("Not my pleasure, 
but Thine only — do I seek in Thee, O my God," etc.) 
The blind man had scarcely begun to play the air, 
when entirely abandoning himself to the emotions 
which it expressed, Gerard became excessively joyful. 
Quite inebriated with delight, he began to dance, and 
continually repeated the words : "Not my pleasure, but 
Thine only!" Suddenly, all external movements ceased, 
the eyes assumed the fixed but mild look towards 
heaven, which they usually assumed during an ecstasy, 
and in the presence of all who were present, among 
whom was Santorelli, he was raised in the air a few 
feet froin the ground. 

In imitation of our divine Saviour, Gerard was 
solicitous to aid the poor not only in their bodily wants, 
but he was anxious to exert the fullest possible salutary 
influence on their souls. For this purpose, he usually 
taught catechism before the distribution of bread. 
After he had arranged his poor in groups, placing the 
little boys and girls in front, he spoke to them of their 
duties as Christians, and of matters of religion as his 
faith and charity inspired him, and the capacity of his 
hearers demanded. In order to urge them to the prac- 
tice of patience, and to the resigned endurance of their 
suffering condition, he frequently pointed out to them 



358 TEE PORTER. 

our dear Lord, Who spent His life in great trials. 
Above all did he exhort his poor people to pray, to 
receive the sacraments, and endeavored to awaken in 
their hearts sentiments of contrition, and of detach- 
ment from sin. 

The instructions of Gerard served as a healing balm 
to the souls of the poor, and proved to be of great 
benefit to many others who were not mendicants. 

As soon as it became known that instructions were 
given by the In-other, other inhabitants of Caposele came 
at the time of the distribution of bread for the purpose 
of hearing the sermons of the holy brother. Not a few 
learnt from them what they never knew, or they felt 
themselves moved as they had never been before. 

"It was consoling to see," says Father Tannoja, "that 
many, immediately after hearing him, hastened to the 
<murch, where in deep contrition they cast themselves 
.at the feet of the priests and made their confession. 
Several of them, whose wicked lives were well known, 
and who had not received the sacraments for a long 
time, went away from Gerard's instructions rilled with 
the necessary strength to approach the sacred tribunal 
of penance." 

One of these conversions, brought about by the 
servant of God at the door, was that of a young woman 
who though regarded as very pious had for a long time 
been committing sacrileges, and was the slave of very 
Avicked habits. The unfortunate person deceived her- 
self and her spiritual director. One day she was met 
by Gerard at the gate of the convent. He knew the 
•condition of her interior by inspiration. Having dis- 
missed the poor, he represented to her in most vivid 
colors the terrible condition of her soul. She could 
not resist such an admonition from the lips of a saint, 
and therefore no longer disregarded the call of grace, 
begging the servant of God to point out to her the 



THE PORTER. 359 

path ill which she should walk. Gerard sent her to 
Iliceto, to Father Fiocchi, for the purpose of making 
her confession to him, which was done amid floods of 
tears. Her subsequent life proved that these tears 
were sincere, springing from true contrition. With 
great humility she made her past irregularities known 
to all, and told Iioav Gerard had saved her ; she after- 
wards became the mirror of virtue for the whole town 
of Caposele. 

In an account written by Father Cajone some time 
afterwards, he praised her perseverance. "She contin- 
ues," he said, "to edify every one, but cannot think of 
Brother Gerard without bursting into tears." 

Those, who had once met the servant of God at the 
door of the house at Caposele, and had received bread 
or consolation from him, held in grateful remembrance 
these benefits and frequently mentioned them under 
tears. Gerard was ever remembered by the poor; 
they continued to speak of him as their "Father," and 
honored him as they would honor a saint. 

That this great charity towards the poor, exhibited 
by the saintly porter of Caposele, was only a branch 
of the great tree of his perfect charity toward his neigh- 
bor, is proved by his behavior towards those with 
whom he had to associate, especially his own brethren 
within the convent walls. Here he evinced the same 
pure, tender charity, the same friendliness, the same 
patience. 

We may remember that at Naples the servant of God 
had been Father Margotta's consoler, but was not at 
that time able to assuage his interior trials, and 
was obliged to bid him hope for better days. That the 
suffering Father was out of sight did not cause him to 
escape Gerard's thoughts. The latter continually im- 
plored God to relieve Father Margotta of his sufferings, 
and not satisfied with praying, (he finally offered him- 



360 THE PORTER. 

self to bear the burden, provided Father Margotta 
could find alleviation. And, behold! This offer of 
charity was not refused by our Lord. One day, Santo- 
relli, on entering his cell, found him in the act of 
writing. "What are you doing there ?" he asked the 
brother. "I am writing to Father Margotta," he said, 
'■to inform him that henceforth he will be free from 
his interior sufferings, and to assure him of the joy I 
feel thereat." What Gerard had announced had really 
come to pass. Letters which were received from Father 
Margotta at Naples clearly indicated that at the time 
when Gerard wrote to him he was relieved of liis suffer- 
ings. Strange to say, at that very time, there came 
over the servant of God such a depression of spirits, 
strangely contrasting with his former habitual cheerful- 
ness. There was no fire in his eye, nor was there a 
smile on his face ; he seemed to be very dejected, and 
to have lost all courage. As his Superior was not 
accustomed to see this, he asked him why he was sad. 
Gerard then explained : "Alas ! I had not the courage 
to see Father Margotta suffering so long. I therefore 
offered myself to Jesus Christ to suffer torments instead 
of the good Father." 

His genuine, well-grounded charity is shown by 
another incident. Although it reflects some dishonor 
on him who took part in it, we can relate the incident, 
especially since the guilty one did not conceal it, but 
made a public confession of it to the honor of the ser- 
vant of God. 

The art of making Crucifixes and 'Ecce Homo' images, 
which Gerard had learnt at Naples, he cultivated with 
great ardor at Caposele, with the permission of his 
Superior. For this kind of pious occupation the saint- 
ly brother needed, however, paint and glue, which he 
generally procured from the carpenter of the house, 
Stephen Sperduto. The continual requests made for 



THE POSTER. 361 

these things soon became very offensive to Sperduto, 
and in order to be able to say that he had no more, he 
one day concealed them in his room. He was no doubt 
greatly astonished, when after telling the lie that he 
no longer had any, Gerard calmly mentioned the place 
where he had concealed them. This however did not 
convert him. A short while after, as he had to absent 
himself from the house for some time, he took the glue- 
pot in which there was some dry glue, as also the paint 
which he had placed on the top of it, and again con- 
cealed them so that Gerard should not be able to do 
anything. To find the concealed glue-pot was not, 
however, very difficult for him ; only God permitted 
that he should now make a mistake, which he certainly 
wished to avoid, and could easily have avoided. 

Gerard did not notice that the dry paint was lying 
on the top of the glue. Naturally, in a short time a 
strange mixture of paint and glue was formed whereby 
both were rendered useless. Upon his return, the 
carpenter perceiving what had been done became en- 
raged. He did not doubt that Gerard was the cause 
of the damage, and became so incensed against him 
that he gave him a violent blow with a piece of wood 
which he happened to have in his hand. In an instant 
the humble. lay-brother was on his knees. "Alas! strike, 
brother, strike ; you are right in doing so !" It was, 
however, only the first emotion of passion which dark- 
ened Sperduto's understanding and betrayed him into 
such an act of injustice. Gerard's humility immediate- 
ly calmed him. "Oh, my brother" he exclaimed, with 
great contrition, "you think that I am going to kill 
you. No, no ! I will do you no harm. I was carried 
away by my anger." "And Gerard, — who would be- 
lieve such a thing?" — as Stephen Sperduto himself 
afterwards related, "never complained to any one about 
my cruel behavior towards him, and always evinced 



362 THE PORTER. 

his old friendship for me. But I learnt thenceforward 
how to value his sanctity which I had not hitherto ap- 
preciated." 

This charity, meekness and humility procured friends 
for Gerard in the convent as well as out of it. 

Among the latter may be mentioned Dr. Nicholas 
Santorelli, who was an uncommon man, and well-fitted 
to form a holy friendship with Gerard. 

"He was," says Father Tannoja, "extremely pious 
and devout, and a fervent client of the Most Blessed 
Virgin. He loved Jesus Christ so intensely, that he re- 
ceived Holy Communion every day. Always recollected 
and united with God, he spent several hours in prayer 
every day. To this he added severe penances, was 
anxious to mortify himself in all thing, and in what- 
ever he engaged always sought Crod's honor. After our 
house had been established at Caposele, he placed 
himself unter the direction of Father Sportelli, and 
later under that of Father Cafaro ; and every morning, 
in all kinds of weather, he visited his director, and per- 
formed his devotions in church. At the sermon which 
was preached every Saturday, and during the novenas, 
as well as the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, he 
was a regular attendant, and did not allow the long 
distance which he had to foot to prevent him from 
being present." 

Scarcely had this man become acquainted with the 
servant of God, when he became attached to him as a 
friend, and used every opportunity to derive from his 
extraordinary gifts some special benefit for his own 
soul. As often as he came to the convent — this was 
every morning, — he paid Gerard a brief visit, if he was 
not otherwise engaged, and often conferred with the 
simple brother on most important matters. 

Gerard justly esteemed Santorelli, delighted in mak- 
ing him a confidant, and tenderly helped him and his 



THE TORTER. 363 

excellent family in many difficulties. We shall yet 
meet with several proofs of the intimate relation which 
existed between Santorelli and the servant of God. 

As regards other admirers and friends of Gerard,, 
who entertained a special affection for him, we will 
mention only one, the arch-priest Camillo Bozzio, 
whom we remember at Atella in close relationship with 
the saintly brother. The holy priest continued to 
maintain the friendship which he had formed at that 
time, and was delighted to have the brother near him, 
and to have frequent interviews with him. He often 
visited him, conversed with him about different subjects 
of piety, and studied the spirit and the life of the ser- 
vant of God. He did this not only for his own benefit 
but for the edification of posterity ; for Bozzio after- 
wards described in a long account of the man of God,, 
what impressions the latter had made upon him. 

We have already quoted several times from this ac- 
count; but we here wish to give, word for word, its 
principal items, partly because in it is clearly expressed 
the high esteem with which Gerard's friends regarded 
him, partly also because it contains a splendid testi- 
mony of the saintly brother, given by a man who was 
able to observe, as well as to judge what he observed. 
The account will, moreover, conduct us in an appro- 
priate manner to the subject of the next chapter. 

"Since the beginning of our friendship," writes Bozzio 
in his account, "Gerard gave me numerous proofs of 
his well-grounded virtue. I entertained at that time 
the opinion (which I hold even at the present time) 
that the soul of the brother remained constantly in 
God's presence. By the practice of this, he attained 
to an intimate union with God. Distinguished as he 
was by his active union with God, which brings the 
human will into full harmony with the divine ; speaking 
of it with deep emotion, and also living greatly detach- 



364 THE PORTER. 

ed from all earthly things, I do not doubt that God 
also raised him to a participative and receptive union 
with Himself. I was fully convinced of this, shortly 
before his last illness. "We were conversing together 
quite alone, and he asked me the meaning of some 
verses of the 17th. Psalm that begins with the words : 
"Diligani te Domine fortitudo mea!" (I will love 
Thee, O Lord, my strength!) especially in regard to 
the meaning of the words : "Inclinavit ccelos et des- 
cendit et caligo sub pedibus ejus." (He bowed the hea- 
vens and came down; and darkness was under His 
feet.) His questions led me immediately to the belief 
that he wished to speak of the kind of prayer which 
mystics usually call "Contemplation in the negative 
way," and which when he participated in it, gave him 
the appearance of a man who is enveloped by a mys- 
terious darkness. I gave him some information in 
reference to the questions proposed ; he, however, who 
had had experience in this matter treated the matter 
much better than I did. 

"In all that he did, the pleasure of God was the only 
end for which he strove with a most ardent desire. Yet, 
this striving of the heart was neither disturbed nor in- 
jured by the submission which he was accustomed to 
render to every one of his Superiors. 

"His mind continued alwajs the same ; whether the 
'Beloved of his soul' afflicted him or seemed to act as 
if he were going to forsake him ; in spiritual dryness 
as well as in an abundance of light, he was the same. 
And if, at times, his interior sufferings manifested them- 
selves, not the least sign of impatience or displeasure 
in them could be remarked. 

"His intercourse with others was a mixture of the 
most charming modesty and the most agreeable cheer- 
fulness. If many of his actions appeared strange and 
unseemly, they may be explained by his uninterrupted 



THE PORTER. 365 

attention to God, partly also by his desire to be regard- 
ed and treated like a fool. He also had an extremely 
clear understanding and was of a very serene turn of 
mind. 

"To express many things in few words, I repeat what 
Fathers of his Congregation — holy men, well exper- 
ienced in matters concerning the spiritual life — have 
testified ; namely, that Brother Gerard had wonderful 
ecstasies, possessed the virtue of obedience in a heroic 
degree; that he knew how to obey commands that 
were given only mentally ; that as children of the world 
glory in false pleasures, Gerard gloried in his suffer- 
ings, by perfectly submitting to the dispensations of 
Providence, however painful they might be ; and that 
without being indiscreet, he always hungered after suf- 
ferings. I also know for a certainty, what other per- 
sons worthy of belief have related of him : he was able 
to penetrate the hearts of men, and to recognize in 
them their actual temptations, their immortified inclin- 
ations, their aridities as well as their consolations ; that 
he was able to indicate the best time for the purifica- 
tion of a soul, as well as the more or less distant periods 
of God's visitations ; and that he possessed the light of 
prophecy and the gift of working miracles. 

"Eegarding his obedience, the Fathers of the Con- 
gregation may no doubt be able to give a more accurate 
account. I can, however, give the assurance that he 
always spoke of obedience "with the highest respect, 
and entertained for it a burning love. One day I was 
standing in a field near the convent of 'Mater Domini,' 
during the time of recreation. The Superior, who had 
noticed me, said to Gerard that he should kiss my feet. 
He immediately hurried away to fulfil the command. 
"When I saw him coming I wished to shun him and 
hastened my steps so that he could not overtake me; 
but he also hastened his steps. Not being able to 



366 THE PORTER. 

overtake me, lie cried out that I should wait for him. 
In order not to tire him and cause him anxiety I was 
compelled to stop ; whereupon he kissed my feet. 

"After all that has been mentioned, I say it is im- 
possible to admit that Gerard's soul was guided by 
human or diabolical spirit, the Divine Spirit alone 
directed him. His heroism in obedience and in con- 
formity to the divine will, as well as his heroic love of 
sufferings verify this assertion. The practice of these 
virtues clearly indicates and does not permit us to 
doubt, that Gerard's soul was moved entirely by the 
Spirit of God ; for extraordinary things are free from 
all possible deception by the practice of these virtues. 
If to trials cheerfully borne for God's sake — as was the 
case with Gerard — is added the burning desire always 
to suffer more and more, then the highest point of love 
that can be reached on earth is attained. Then the 
soul is in that sublime condition of sanctity in which the 
Apostle St. Paul cried out : "Vivo ego, jam non ego, 
vivit vero in me Christus." (I live, now not I ; but 
Christ liveth in me.)" 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Heavenly Gifts In Full Splendor. 



"Gerard's sojourn at the house of Caposele," says 
Father Taimoja, "was nothing less than a chain of 
miracles and of the grandest virtues." 

The earthly career of the servant of God was indeed 
drawing rapidly to a close. His bodily health was en- 
tirely destroyed. Nearly every morning he had a 
hemorrhage of the lungs, though he never complained 
or even mentioned the fact to any one. His austere 
life, his unremitting labors, had helped to destroy his 
naturally weak body. Entirely forgetful of self at Ca- 
posele as he had been at Iliceto, Gerard was always 
ready to serve and to help every one, without taking 
any rest. 

His position at the door claimed his attention nearly 
all day. He also worked assiduously in the tailor-shop, 
or helped the other lay-brothers wherever he happened 
to be. And as he rigidly adhered to all his mortifica- 
tions, his fasting, his scourging, his long vigils and 
similar bodily tortures, it was not astonishing that his 
weak, sickly body, was rapidly approaching dissolution. 

But while physical strength was perceptibly demin- 
ishing, the supernatural gifts of the saintly brother 
shone forth more brilliantly. 

Just as the sun sends its most resplendent rays over 
the earth, just before its setting and while sinking be- 
low the horizon attracts the attention of all by its bril- 
liant gold and purple hues ; so the highly privileged 
soul of the servant of God seemed to have reserved for 



368 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

the last period of life the most beautiful rays of its mag- 
nificence. All those heavenly gifts which we have so 
often found occasion to admire now show themselves 
according to a remark of Gerard's biographer, redoub- 
led and refined. New forms of them appear ; the per- 
ception of the infinite love which our Lord has exhibi- 
ted and hidden in the mystery of the Altar ; the tender, 
vehement devotion to the fountain of graces, the Bles- 
sed Virgin Mary ; the knowledge of the truths of faith ; 
the power over nature; the penetrating insight into 
men's hearts and into the future ; that inconceivable 
vanquishing, annihilation of space, — all this we find 
in the servant of God in an increased measure during 
this last period of his life. 

His love for the Most Blessed Sacrament, his desire 
to receive our Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar, in- 
creased every day. His visits to the tabernacle were 
now more frequent, his intercourse with our Lord be- 
came more intense and ardent. Gerard loved to spend 
the quiet hours of the night at the foot of the altar, 
while during the day he lost no time in order to gain 
moments to salute our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacra- 
ment. When he saw the Sacred Host he usually fell 
into an ecstasy ; at least he would forget all his sur- 
roundings in such a way that he could not check his 
sighs and his loud expressions of interior joy. 

As this demonstration of emotion disturbed others, 
Father Cajone one day called him to account about it. 
Gerard did not excuse himself, but seized the hand of 
the Rector and placed it on his breast, as if he wished 
to say : you see my dear Father, that I cannot do other- 
wise. Father Caj one felt that Gerard's heart was beating 
violently, and was astonished how he was able to bear 
such pulsations. 

In referring to this, the servant of God said to Santo- 
relli : "If I were on a high mountain, I would wish to 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOU. 369 

set tire to the world with one breath ;" and as he placed 
the doctor's hand on his heart, the latter remarked that 
it was beating as if it would burst his breast. 

This phenomenon usually manifested itself when he 
assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and espec- 
ially when engaged in making his thanksgiving, on his 
knees, hidden in some corner, after Holy Communion. 
As if spell-bound, he sighed and prayed: "O most 
sweet Jesus ! never leave me ! Thou callest me a fool. 
No, I am not a fool ; I should rather call Thee a fool ! 
Thou, an infinite God, remainest here, locked up day 
and night, and what canst Thou gain from so wretched 
a creature ? But as for me, how much can I not gain 
by being in Thy company, O my Saviour?" If Gerard 
refers in such effusions of love to the fact that the 
Lord called him a fool, he refers to the immediate pre- 
sent; for the familiarity, — if we may so call it, of 
earlier years was renewed, and even now he frequently 
heard a voice saying to him from the altar that he was 
a little fool. 

One morning as he was passing the tabernacle, Father 
Cajone, .who was in the church, noticed that he burst 
out into a laugh. ""Why are you laughing?" asked the 
Rector. "Ah!" said Gerard, "He told me that I was a 
fool, and I have told Him, He was much more so, since 
He so foolishly loves me." 

This increased love towards our Lord in the Blessed 
Sacrament made it necessary to do violence to himself 
when it was time to leave the church ; and often, he 
darted like an arrow past the altar in order not to yield 
to his desire to linger in the presence of God and be 
prevented from performing his ordinary duties. 

"How can I do differently?" he said to Santorelli, 
who asked him why he walked so rapidly past the 
altar. "This good and noble Master has inflamed me 
more than once, so that I am always afraid that He is 



370 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

playing me another trick. (Piu d'nna volta questo 
Galantuomo mi lia scottatto, e bisogna che fugga, te- 
rnendo, mi faccia qualche corrivo.)" 

Santorelli soon found occasion to convince himself 
of the truth and reasonableness of Gerard's fear. He 
had just paid his morning visit to the convent and to 
Gerard, and wished to go home through the sacristy 
and the church. The brother accompanied him, and 
"wished to make a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament 
after he had left the doctor. Scarcely, however, had 
the servant of God knelt at the foot of the altar when 
Santorelli, who had passed through the church had 
just crossed the threshold, heard a piercing cry. Look- 
ing back to see why Gerard had screamed, he saw him 
stretched out senseless on the floor before the taber- 
nacle. Some other persons, on hearing the cry, had 
approached and gathered around the brother out of 
curiosity. After Gerard had recovered, and noticed 
the people around him, he became greatly embarrassed, 
arose without saying a word and left the church with 
his head bowed down. The following day Doctor 
Santorelli met him in the corridor of the house and 
began to smile. Gerard immediately understood what 
the smile meant, and said : "Did I not tell you that 
there is no joking with my good Master? Do you see 
how many tricks He plays me?" 

While Gerard's love of God became more exalted 
and refined towards the end of his life, his love and 
devotion to the Blessed Virgin was also increased. On 
one occasion Santorelli asked him whether he loved 
the Blessed Virgin ; whereupon Gerard answered : "O 
my dear Doctor ! You are tormenting me ; you are tor- 
menting me!" And in order to hide the ardor of the love 
which threatened to seize him at this moment, he hur- 
ried away. 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 371 

On another occasion, during the time of recreation, 
Gerard was in the company of his brethren among 
whom chanced to be Father Andrew Strina, a man of 
great simplicity, and specially devoted to the Infant 
Jesus. There arose between him and the servant of 
God a friendly quarrel. In order to tease Father Strina 
Gerard said to him: "You do not love the Infant Jesus!" 
But Father Strina used the same Aveapon and replied : 
"And you, brother, do not love the Madonna !" Both 
were touched to the quick, and the brother more sen- 
sitive than Father Strina — ■ barely reminded of his love 
for the Blessed Virgin, became quite inflamed. In his 
joy he clasped Father Strina in his arms; little was 
wanting for both to fall into ecstasy. 

This intimate and animated intercourse with God 
increased the knowledge of the servant of God in regard 
to the truths of our holy religion in a most remarkable 
manner. These truths appeared to him clearer every 
day, so that he was able to penetrate the depths of 
their mysteries in a most astonishing manner. 

"The wise men of the world," as Canon Camillo 
Bozzio expresses himself, "were silenced and put to 
shame in his presence. He was, it is true, unlearned ; 
but he drew knowledge from the living fountain of the 
Redeemer, and not from the muddy streams of human 
wisdom ; so it happened that distinguished theologians 
frequently became confused while speaking to him. 
No theologian, no scientific man, was able to follow his 
thoughts when he, inebriated with the love of God, be- 
gan to sink into the mysteries of the Most High." 

In the same manner did his friend Santorelli express 
himself about Gerard. "When Brother Gerard," he 
says, "began to speak of divine things, he, as it were, 
passed out of himself. The most difficult subjects 
were intelligible in his words. As often as I conversed 
with him, I was astonished when I considered that a 



372 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

poor lay-brother who had received no education could 
enter into deep mysteries and elucidate them." 

Don Joseph de Lucia, who was studying at Caposele 
at that time and afterwards became Arch-priest of 
Santa Fede, made the same experience. "I entered 
into conversation with Brother Gerard," he relates, 
"about theological matters, and he enlightened me in 
regard the Incarnation and the Blessed Trinity in a 
manner that a St. Augustine and a St. Thomas could 
not have surpassed." 

A young priest from Gerard's native place who was 
somewhat puffed up with his own acquirements mistook 
the first sensation for true strength, and did not wish 
to believe in the extraordinary knowledge of his coun- 
tryman, and boasted of his own learning. A few 
questions about certain points of theology were suffi- 
cient, however, to puzzle him greatly ; he was not able 
to say another word ; he was silent. "My dear country- 
man," Gerard said most kindly to him, "you have 
indeed studied theology, but you are not on this 
account a theologian. O no ! One does not acquire 
this science except by humility and prayer." 

"But," says Father Tannoja, "it is not so wonderful 
that Gerard could become a theologian without study ; 
greater astonishment was created that he could also 
make others theologians — that is, that he was able to 
communicate the gift which he himself possessed." 

One of his friends, Don Donato Spicci, likewise a 
priest belonging to Muro, who had heard a profound 
exposition of the famous first verses of St. John's Gos- 
pel from Gerard's lips, experienced this personally. 
Being on a visit to the servant of God one day, he 
noticed a small book lying on Gerard's table. It was 
the life of the Venerable Mary Crucifixa, for whom Ger- 
ard entertained great devotion. Donato opened the 
book and found the chapter which treated of the "Soli- 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SFLENDOR. 373 

(jade on Calvary." He read the title aloud. "Ah!" 
said Gerard to him, "these things are not for you. You 
are, it is true, a theologian," he added smiling, "but 
you will not understand the meaning of the words." In 
fact the good priest found the book rather obscure, but 
after a pause he said : "The book is written neither in 
French nor Hebrew ; whoever has a little sense would 
be able to understand it." "Very well," replied the 
servant of God, "read some of it and tell me what the 
saint wishes to say. Donato read a passage ; he read 
it several times, but when he wished to explain it, 
found that he could not. Santorelli, who was present 
and saw his predicament began to laugh. Donato al- 
ready put to shame and therefore somewhat irritated, 
was displeased. Then Gerard said good humoredly : 
"My dear Donato, do not trouble yourself so much." 
He then signed the priest's forehead with the sign of 
the Cross and said : "Now read ; you will understand 
and will be able to explain everything;" and Donato 
actually understood everything with the greatest ease. 

The same wonderful communication of knowledge oc- 
curred to another priest. According to his testimony 
it had reference to several passages in a work of the 
Venerable Palafox. "When he had mentioned his in- 
ability to understand them, the holy brother signed 
him with the sign of the Cross and said : "In the name 
of the Most Holy Trinity, read !" Immediately, he 
comprehended the text and was able to explain it easi- 
ly and readily to others. 

His superior knowledge of human hearts was in no 
way inferior to his supernatural knowledge of the divine 
mysteries. Hearts with their wishes, propensities and 
mysteries, were often lying open before his eyes, so 
that lie appeared to read in a book. Thus, it was won- 
derful what a peculiar impression an impure soul made 
upon him. 



374 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

Gerard used this gift of the knowledge of the human 
hearts at Caposele as he had done at Iliceto for the 
benefit of his fellow-men, especially of those poor sin- 
ners who were tempted to conceal the condition of their 
soul from God's representative. 

A girl was about to leave the church where she had 
received the sacraments, when Gerard called her aside 
and said: "Why have you come here?" "To go to 
confession," she answered. "Of course," said Gerard, 
"but you did not make a good confession." The ser- 
vant of God then mentioned to the frightened girl what 
she had concealed in confession through false shame. 
She became greatly agitated, sincerely repented, and 
made a good confession. 

Once, several men came from Castelgrande to Capo- 
sele to make a retreat ; among them was Francis Mug- 
none. While Francis was taking a walk in the garden 
during the retreat, he met Gerard, who looked at him 
seriously and said : "But, Francis have you made a 
good confession?" In reply to an affirmative answer 
Gerard said: "It is not true! your confession «was not 
good. See whom you have behind you." Mugnone 
looked back and saw a diabolical appearance. His 
flight was very great, but it was salutary. He imme- 
diately returned to make a sincere confession, and recei- 
ved Holy Communion worthily. 

An unfortunate woman had been indulging in the 
wretched pastime of deceiving several priests by pre- 
tending that she was possessed, in order to obtain 
pecuniary assistance from them. During six weeks or 
more some of them had been exerting themselves to 
expel a supposed devil. When Gerard had been in- 
formed of the matter he openly said that the person 
was not possessed; and when the hypocrite came to 
him he took her aside and said : "This business which 
you are carrying on, you are doing for one reason or 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 375 

another ; but I tell you to give up these pretensions, or 
I will tear the mask from you and expose you." From 
this moment there was an end of the so-called posses- 
sion, and the guilty woman, seeing the wrong which she 
had been doing amended her life. 

That the servant God knew different places and their 
surroundings, the following incident will explain. 
Donna Candida Fongarelli was a rich lady who especi- 
ally befriended him. He could therefore without fear 
of giving offence ask her for many little favors. Thus 
he asked her one day for some small pieces of white 
silk which he needed for a veil for a ciborium. The 
lady promised to give them to him, and accordingly 
examined her wardrobe to find a piece of silk such as 
the servant of God had asked for. Finding nothing 
suitable she thought to cut what she needed from her 
wedding dress which she did not intend to wear any 
more. On the following day she again met the brother 
who, without any introduction, as if there was question 
of a matter already communicated to him, said to her 
that she should not for the sake of two pieces spoil her 
dress, but should search again. "You will," he added, 
"surely find something that will answer." Donna 
Candida was surprised that Gerard knew what she 
intended to do, since she had not communicated her 
idea to any one. 

Having reached home she again searched and found 
what she had before sought in vain. When Gerard 
showed the silk to his Superior the latter was errone- 
ously impressed as to its size, and said that not only 
one but two veils might be made of it, and therefore 
told Gerard to make two. Obedient in all things, he 
at first calmly received the command but was soon 
convinced that the material was insufficient to make 
two veils. Having discovered this, he called upon the 
Sector. "Well, it must be done," said the Eector, 



376 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

"just try to do so." Gerard went to Iris workshop. 
Donato Spicci was there ; he was, as has been said, a 
frequent visitor of the servant of God, and had received 
permission from Father Cajone to converse Avith him 
on pious subjects. The good religious immediately be-. 
gan the task the fulfilment of which only a miracle 
could render possible. Whatever way the pattern was 
fitted it was evident that only one veil could be made 
of the material. Gerard then turned to Spicci for 
counsel. The latter closed the book in which he was 
reading, and then tried to fit the pattern to the silk. 
He could not arrive at any conclusion different to the 
silk. He finally exclaimed : "Nobody is obliged to do 
what is impossible." The lay-brother however was not 
satisfied. "As far as I am concerned, I must obey, 
and obey at once. Since there is question about some- 
thing that concerns our dear Lord, it rests with Him to 
do what I cannot do." After saying these words, he 
fell on his knees, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed. 
Then he took the scissors in one hand,, the pattern in 
the other, and began to cut out the material. The 
result was, that Gerard effected in an inconceivable 
■manner what was impossible, and obtained four equal 
parts, each of which had its own flower, and this as 
perfect as if it had been cut from the middle of a piece. 

The gift of miracles which so singularly manifested 
itself in this case, was displayed more frequently and 
more strikingly during the latter part of his life. 

From the many examples which could prove this, 
Gerard's biographers have selected only the following : 

While passing through the town of Caposele, a 
stranger was seized with so violent an attack of gout 
of the hip (sciatica) that he was reduced to a most 
pitiable condition. The separation from his family 
distressed the poor man so much that he became very 
melancholy, and continually sighed and wept. Scarcely 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 377 

had Gerard heard this when he hastened to visit the 
sick man. He exhorted him to confide in the Blessed 
Virgin, and then signed him with the sign of the Cross. 
At the same moment his pains ceased. The man 
was- overjoyed -at the wonderful help he had received, 
and was so grateful to God and His servant, that every 
hour of the night seemed to him a century, and he 
could scarcely await the break of day in order to make 
the event known to the whole community. 

Another cure which though not completed by Gerard, 
was at least begun by him : A workman of Muro, Alex- 
ander Fafilli, had a child called Anthony ten years of 
age, suffering from scrofula. All human aid had proved 
useless. The father, therefore, resolved to use the last 
means and to have recourse to Heaven. For this pur- 
pose he intended to make a pilgrimage with the child 
to the Madonna of Monte Yergine. 

On his way thither he came to Caposele, Avhere he 
visited the servant of God, and introduced his poor 
sick child. Gerard showed the most heartfelt compas- 
sion. After he had moistened his fingers with spittle, 
he applied them to the throat of the child and at once 
the scrofula began to heal. "Now go," said Gerard, 
"go and make your pilgrimage; the Madonna will grant 
the request which you will make." It was true. The 
child returned home quite well. 

Gerard rendered a still more important service by 
hib gift of miracles, to a certain Januarius Liguori. 
Being seriously ill, tho latter had already lost con- 
sciousness, and seemed to be near death's door. Jan- 
uarius had not received the sacraments for many years, 
in consequence of which the members of his family 
were much grieved. In their trouble they sent for 
Gerard and intimated that they wished him to pray 
'that the sick man might reeover consciousness so as to 
-be able to make a good confession. The servant of 



378 HEAVENLY GIFTS IX FULL SPLENDOR. 

God readily complied with the request, and immediate- 
ly went to the dying man. While praying, he leaned 
over him so that his face touched the face of Januarius, 
who was already in agony. Scarcely f had this been 
done in the presence of the family and of the physician, 
Santorelli, when the dying man opened his eyes and 
became quite conscious. He made his confession, and 
amid signs of great contrition received the Holy Viati- 
cum and Extreme Unction, and died a few days after, 
in sentiments of Christian resignation. 

Still more remarkable is the following incident : Rose 
Marolda, a relative of the archpriest at Muro, had lost 
her sight through sickness. The remedies applied had 
no effect whatever. As the sick person, had great con- 
fidence in her countryman, the saintly Brother Gerard, 
she asked Donato Spicci to bring her something from 
Gerard's hand, from Caposele, where he was about to go 
to make his retreat, The priest fulfilled this request 
when he took leave of the servant of God to return to 
Muro, and earnestly begged him to hear poor Rose. 
Gerard was at first reluctant. Seeking some pretext, 
he said that God wished to make her a saint, and that 
she should conform to His holy will. But Spicci was 
not satisfied with this refusal, and assailed the servant 
of God with new petitions. The latter, however, 
repeated what he had said, and concluded with the 
assertion that God did not Avish that the sick woman 
should become well so soon, and that she had consol- 
ation enough in thinking of our Saviour on the Cross. 
"But I shall not leave the house before you have given 
me something for her," said Spicci ; and he persisted. 
He finally prevailed upon Gerard, who then went to 
his cell, and having returned with a small bottle of 
water he gave it to the priest and said : "Give her this, 
but no one should know anything about it. Donato 
did as he had been charged. The blind woman, wash- 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOU. 379 

ed her eyes with the water, felt an improvement the 
very first time she applied it, and after the lapse of a 
week she was perfectly restored. The people who knew 
nothing about the remedy given by the saintly brother, 
were astonished ; they ascribed the cure to the skill of 
the doctors. 

But Rose, knowing very well who had cured her, 
was filled with gratitude and cried out: "May the 
honor be God's Who has granted me this great favor." 

The miracle of vicarious labor by heavenly spirits, 
of which we read in the lives of many saints similar in 
character to Brother Gerard, also occurred at Caposele. 

The servant of God had been appointed cook for one 
day. In the morning, after Communion, he retired to 
his thanksgiving in the oratory, where there was a 
large crucifix before which he loved to pray. Sunk in 
meditation, the good brother forgot all about the kit- 
chen and the preparation of dinner. What was trans- 
acted during the entire forenoon between himself and 
his dear Lord, no one knew. When, however, the 
time for dinner was approaching and the door of the 
kitchen remained locked, search was made for Brother 
Gerard. Brother Carmine Santagniello, who was attend- 
ing to this matter, found him the moment in which he was 
leaving the oratory. His eyes were radiant with joy; 
his face was all aglow. "But, Brother Gerard," Car- 
mine said to him, "what have you been doing? In the 
refectory the cloth is already laid, and the kitchen is 
locked." "You have too little faith, dear Brother," 
answered Gerard, "are there no angels, and what have 
they to do?" 

Immediately after, the Community came to the refec- 
tory; in the kitchen there was no delay; everything 
seemed to be in the best of order and well prepared. 

Yet more wonderful than the service of the angels, is 



380 HEAVENLY GIFTS IX FULL SPLENDOE. 

another favor from heaven which, the servant of God 
enjoyed several times during the latter part of his life ; 
we mean the mysterious annihilation of space and of 
that law to which bodies are naturally subject, and in 
consequence of which they cannot be present in several 
places at the same time. On many occasions Gerard 
appeared in different and distant places at the same 
time as is proved hy undeniable evidence. 

To the special friends of the holy brother belonged 
among others the family Di Gregorio, at Lacedogna. 
Here, with the sign of the Cross which he made over a 
barrel of wine that began to turn into vinegar, he pre- 
vented threatening damage and gained the thanks and 
the highest confidence of all. Now it happened that a 
servant of the house became very ill. To his violent 
sufferings were added continual anxieties, so that the 
poor man suffered excruciating tortures. One evening 
amid his sufferings he thought of the wonderful lay- 
brother, and in the confidence which he placed in him 
exclaimed: "O my dear Brother Gerard, where are 
you? Why do you not come to help me?" Imme- 
diately a knock was heard at the door. It was opened, 
and the servant of God stood before it. He straight- 
way went to the sick man. "You called for me, and I 
am here!" he said, "I have come to assist you. Have 
you a lively faith in God? Make a whole-souled act 
of faith, and you will become well." While he was 
thus exhorting the sick man, he signed the patient's 
forehead with the sign of the Cross and left the room. 
The pains of the sick man had, in the meantime, van- 
ished, and he could now rise from his bed without 
difficulty. His first impulse was to express his most 
heartfelt thanks to his benefactor. He imagined that 
he would find him with the family, but was greatly as- 
tonished in being unable to find him in any part of the 
house! With the exception of himself and the family 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 381 

of Di Gregorio, no one at Lacedogna had seen the ser- 
vant of God. 

A confidant of Gerard's, and his right hand in the 
distribution of alms among different poor persons living 
at a distance, was Theodore Cleffi. One day he had a 
long interview with the servant of God, who dismissed 
him Avith the request to obtain for him an accurate list 
of the neediest poor of Caposele. Leaving Brother 
Gerard, Cleffi called at the house of a sick man whose 
sad circumstances he well knew, and asked him what 
he most needed. "I need nothing at present," he 
answered, "for Brother Gerard, who just now visited 
me, provided me with all that I wanted." Cleffi was 
startled at this answer. Since he had come straight 
from Brother Gerard, after speaking a long time with 
him, and the latter could not possibly have been there 
a short time before, he regarded the assertion of the 
sick man as a falsehood, and expressed great displeasure 
on this account. The man however, showed him what 
he had received, and maintained most emphatically that 
Gerard had just left him. Cleffi could not doubt any long- 
er that here there was question of another miracle, and 
that the servant of God had received from the Lord, 
as a reward for his charity, the grace to be in different 
places at the same time. 

Another fact of this kind is mentioned by Father 
Tannoja. "One day Gerard was waiting to hear from 
Muro about some pressing business that concerned the 
honor of God. No intelligence being received, he said : 
"It is necessary that I should go there myself to-mor- 
row." On the following day, according to the testi- 
mony of Lorenzo di Majo, he was actually seen at 
Muro, while he was staying at our house at Caposele." 

Father Margotta could also tell of this wonderful 
power possessed by the brother. "Just imagine," he 
once said to Santorelli : "this 'little fool,' Brother 



382 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 

Gerard was in his room last night, and yet he was seen 
in an ecstasy before the Blessed Sacrament in the choir 
of the Franciscans." 

Sometimes the presence of the servant of God in 
another place was of a purely spiritual, though very 
noticeable nature. As he was able to see and know 
things at a distance, — whether or not people were 
keeping their promises, — he frequently in a most 
wonderful manner made his co-operation sensible, as 
well as his participation and his spiritual presence in 
behalf of those living or acting at a distance. In such 
a case the impression made on the minds of those 
whom he visited, guided, or supported, became as vivid 
and as strong as if .he had stood at their side visibly 
and bodily. 

The sick at Caposele were not unfrequently visited 
by the saintly brother in this mysterious manner ; and 
Dr. Santorelli relates from his own experience as follows: 
"One day while I was visiting my patients I felt that 
Brother Gerard was continually at my side as distinct- 
ly as if I had seen him with my own eyes. When I 
afterwards came to 'Mater Domini' and met him I told 
him of the experience which I had had. 'What did you 
mean,' I asked, 'by following me continually on my 
walk?' 'Do you not know,' he answered, 1) 'that I 
must go away to-morrrow? I therefore did not wish 
to leave this place without again visiting my poor sick 
people.' " 

On another occasion Gerard was with the members 
of the doctor's family, conversing with them in an edi- 
fying manner, as was his wont. When going away he 
promised to return in the evening. It was known that 
the Rule forbade him to go out after the "Angelus ;" 
whereupon Santorelli began to smile. Gerard, however, 

D He referred to his journey to Naples, which we shall 
soon have occasion to mention. 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 383 

reproved him. "I am not joking," he said, "I will 
come, not bodily but spiritually." But, when evening 
came, the doctor's sister saw before her the servant of 
God who cast a piercing glance at her. Of the reality 
of this apparition she was so convinced that she declar- 
ed she was ready to take an oath to confirm her assert- 
ion. 

A similarly wonderful occurrence was experienced in 
regard to Gerard by the archpriest of Teora, Don Nicho- 
las Fiore. As he had heard of the extraordinary gifts 
of the brother, he felt a very strong desire to become 
acquainted with him. He expressed his Avish to Santo- 
relli, and the latter would gladly have introduced him 
to Gerard, but the brother was not at Caposele; he 
promised however, that on the servant of God's return, 
he would speak to him about his desire. When Gerard 
came home, Santorelli did as he had promised. "Well, 
then I shall try to find him," Gerard answered briefly. 
Santorelli did not imagine how speedily and wonder- 
fully the servant of God would act on this resolution. 
A few days afterwards, the Archbishop of Conza came 
to Caposele, and the arch-priest of Teora made use of 
this opportunity to wait on his Grace. "Now is the 
best time," said Santorelli when he met Fiore, "to make 
the acquaintance of Gerard, as you so much desire to 
do so." "But I have already made his acquaintance," 
the archpriest answered; "a few evenings ago he was 
with me at Teora." Fiore then related that on that 
evening at a certain hour — it was on the same evening 
and at the same hour in which Santorelli had communi- 
cated to the servant of God the desire of the archpriest 
— he saw in his room a Kedemptorist lay-brother. He 
did not see him with his bodily eyes but perceived him 
clearly and distinctly by means of a certain higher, in- 
describable sight, so that the outlines of the brother 
were still in his memory. "You desire to see me," 



384 HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOK. 

said the lay-brother; "Well I have come in order that 
you may understand that I am nothing but a poor man, 
more wretched than all others." Santorelli was greatly 
astonished when he heard this. He, however, wished 
to convince himself of the truth of what had occurred, 
and for this purpose led the archpriest to a room of 
the house where were assembled several Eedemptorists, 
among whom was Gerard. "Now," said he, "which of 
these is Gerard?" Fiore pointed him out without hesi- 
tation, and quite correctly. 

In the midst of these heavenly gifts and miracles, 
the holy brother continued to remain the humblest and 
simplest of souls. The lowly opinion which he for- 
merly expressed about his abilities and virtues had ex- 
perienced no change amid the multiplication of divine 
favors and the innumerable demonstrations of veneration, 
love and respect on the part of the people ; and while 
heaven's gifts were a continual source of confusion to 
him, the honors bestowed upon him by men only frigh- 
tened and tortured him. "Whenever he perceived the 
shadow of such marks of respect t he fled and disap- 
peared as far as he was able. 

The noble lords, De Fillippis, living at Serino, were 
very desirous of making Gerard's acquaintance, having 
heard so much about his miracles. Gerard knew this, 
and when one day they came to Serino, he purposely 
avoided meeting them, and repaired immediately to a 
public inn. As friends of the Congregation, they sent 
for him as soon as they heard that a lay-brother had 
gone to the inn, and thus they met him whom they 
were so anxious to see. Gerard, however, did not be- 
tray himself, and acted in so reserved a manner that 
this time he remained unknown, and the Lords De 
Fillippis became acquainted with the man of God with- 
out recognizing him. 

In his humility the servant of God often envied the 



HEAVENLY GIFTS IN FULL SPLENDOR. 385 

poor who are despised by the world and treated with 
scorn, because they seemed to him to be nearer to 
Jesus Christ. One day on seeing a poor man at the 
convent who acted as messenger, and was drenched 
with rain and bespattered with mud, he exclaimed : 
"Oh how satisfied I would be, if everything were wanting 
to me, like this poor man! This man for the sake of 
a piece of bread, must be satisfied with the neglect and 
want of the world and I — and I. . . . " He could not 
finish the sentence, and began to weep bitterly. 

He desired most earnestly to escape the honors and 
distinctions heaped upon him by men, and to live in 
obscurity. His brethren frequently heard him give 
expression to this wish in loud exclamations. Thus he 
once said: "0 my Lord! Thou dost such great tilings 
in me and alio west everything to be immediately known. 
Why dost Thou not conceal them ?" "0 my Lord," he 
cried out on another occasion, "who am I that Thou 
shouldst reveal Thyself so wonderfully in me ? In all 
things Thy will is enough for me." "O will of God," 
he added, "how happy is he, who knoAvs nothing except 
the will of God!" 



CHAPTEK XXIII. 

Other Apostolic Labors. 



Father Margotta regretted that Gerard should be 
obliged to leave Naples, and looked forward for an op- 
portunity to ask the Superior's consent to his return. 
The time for this seemed to have come after three 
months, and it was presumed that the excitement which 
Gerard had caused at Naples had subsided, and that 
the difficulties which his stay had caused were removed. 

St. Alphonsus, who had only called the brother away 
in consequence of these difficulties, complied with 
Father Margotta's wish to have the servant of God 
under his immediate direction, and therefore sent him 
to the Capital again towards the end of February, 1755. 
Father Margotta came to Caposele himself to bring 
Gerard to Naples ; he had some business to transact 
in Calitri, his native town, and therefore took Gerard 
there with him before returning to Naples. 

Gerard did not hesitate to make this journey for he 
was comparatively little known at Calitri and could 
therefore devote himself quietly to his pious exercises 
and other good works. 

For a few days everything passed off as Gerard de- 
sired. While Father Margotta was attending to his 
affairs the lay -brother spent his time in praying in the 
church before the tabernacle. While his spirit of re- 
collectedness and piety edified all who saw him, noth- 
ing remarkable was noticed, and he remained at rest. 
However, one morning, a woman came from Bisaccia 
where Gerard was well known, and interrupted his 
peace. She had heard of his arrival at Calitri. As 
one of her relatives was very ill she hastened to ask 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABOKS. 387 

the assistance of the miracle-worker. Both Bedemp- 
torists were then living at the house of the Archpriest 
Berilli. She came and asked for the brother. When 
told that he was not at home she waited for his re- 
turn. Gerard did not remain away very long. As soon 
as the woman saw him she cast herself at his feet, told 
him her trouble, and begged him most earnestly to 
cure the sick person. The servant of God listened to 
her with his usual kindness, consoled her, and dismis- 
sed her with the assurance that her relative would be 
restored to health. The people of the house who wit- 
nessed this scene were naturally very much astonished; 
the prayer of the woman, said with the greatest confi- 
dence, as well as the behavior of the brother, seemed 
to them incomprehensible ; they spoke of it to Father 
Margotta, and while doing so could not refrain from 
laughing. This annoyed Father Margotta. "You are 
laughing," he said, "because you do not know the gifts 
which this brother possesses." He then divulged the 
secret, and told these people about the virtues, miracles 
and career of Brother Gerard. This narration went 
through the whole of Calitri like wild-fire. Gerard 
could no longer remain in seclusion. The poor, those 
full of doubt or in need of advice and consolation, as 
■also those attracted by curiosit}^ called on the brother, 
giving him an opportunity to exchange the role of the 
hermit for that of a missionary. As he recognized the 
will of God in this change, he did not hesitate to do at 
Calitri what he had done in other cities. From morn- 
ing till night he practiced the corporal and spiritual 
works of mercy. 

Don John Cioglia, an eminent surgeon and a man 
beloved by all was taken seriously ill. He was the 
first who experienced Gerard's charity, as well as his 
wonderful power. As the physicians had given up his 
<;ase as hopeless, his friends had recourse to Gerard, 



388 OTHEIt APOSTOLIC LABOKS. 

and Father Margotta commanded liim not to refuse 
the petition. He therefore called on the sick man, 
and made the sign of the Cross on his forehead. At 
that very moment consciousness returned, and Cioglia 
felt that he was well. Those who were present were 
astonished at the change. They all acknowledged it 
to be a miracle. "Yes," said Gerard in his simplicity, 
"you see what obedience can do." 

In the same manner, he healed another man. Father 
Margotta, who had been softened by the tears of the 
man's sister, sent him to Gerard. The consequence of 
his visit was not only immediate improvement, but also 
the resolution which the sick man made to approach the 
Sacraments worthily, and to become reconciled with 
God. 

A noble lady, Donna Arcangela Einaldi, happened 
to be at Berilli's house, when she was seized with a 
very violent headache. She saw Gerard's hat lying 
in the corner of the room and thought within herself, 
half in earnest, half in jest: "Let me see whether 
this man is really a saint." She then put the hat 
on her head; scarcely had she done so, when all 
pain left her. This incident induced the members of 
the Berilli family to procure something which Gerard 
generally used. It was remarked that his shoes were 
very much worn. They therefore had new ones made, 
and kept the old ones. These shoes, like the hat, 
proved to be a holy relic. A boy of the same house 
who was suffering from the severest pains that no 
medicine could alleviate became well as soon as he had 
been touched with Gerard's shoes. When subsequent- 
ly during the night these pains returned, the boy 
exclaimed : "Bring me the shoes of Brother Gerard 
quickly," and they again produced an immediate cure. 
According to the testimony of Don Joseph Berilli, 
these shoes became quite renowned at Calitri; they 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 389 

were regarded as a universal remedy ; they went the 
rounds among the sick and the suffering, and by their 
touch many wonderful cures were effected. 

Gerard's greatest desire hoAvever was the cure of 
souls in which he manifested the greatest ardor blend- 
ed with charity and kindness. Hence he acted in the 
capacity of an awakened? of consciences, an exhorter, 
an inciter to good works, and according to circumstances, 
a stern monitor. 

A very pious lady, Maria Candida Strace, who had 
heard of Gerard's sanctity, wished to converse with 
him about the matters of conscience. Something 
weighed heavily on her mind, and she hesitated to ask 
advice of anyone. Even when she stood before Ger- 
ard she lost courage and could not express herself. 
The servant of God, however, when he saw her hesi- 
tating, interrupted her and said compassionately: "Now 
as you do not speak I will speak in your stead." He 
then told her everything that troubled her, and gave 
her the necessary counsel. She afterwards acknow- 
ledged that no one but God could have known what 
Gerard communicated to her. 

An affectionate monitor, but, alas ! in vain, was the 
servant of God, in behalf of a prominent man, Nicholas 
Xavier Berilli, who, unconcerned about eternal things, 
wasted his time in earthly pleasure. Good friends who 
were anxious about his soul directed the brother's 
attention to him. Gerard understood the hint and 
immediately paid him a visit. He tried to infuse into 
the worldly-minded man more serious thoughts than 
those which he had hitherto entertained ; he endeavor- 
ed to persuade him to make a retreat at Carjosele. The 
man listened quietly to the exhortations and proposals 
of Gerard, but maintained that, for many reasons, it 
would be impossible for him to make a retreat. Fin- 
ally, hard pressed by the arguments of the servant of 



390 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABOF.S. 

God, lie said : "I will corae during the month of Octo- 
ber." "Alas!" answered Gerard in a sorrowful tone of 
"voice, "you wish to come in October. Oh ! you will 
never see the month of October." And so it happened. 
Though enjoying the best of health at this time, the 
nobleman was seized with a violent fever during 
the month of August 1755, and before he realized the 
seriousness of his condition, passed into eternity. 

Naturally, the convent of the Benedictine nuns which 
was situated at Calitri, was not left unnoticed by Ger- 
ard. The nuns desired to become acquainted with the 
servant of God, and offered him an opportunity to visit 
them, while Father Margotta also urged him to visit 
them. 

Here, too, he produced incredible results. It 
appeared as if an extraordinary director had come 
among them. His reputation inspired them, with un- 
usual confidence which impelled them to speak to him 
in all sincerity, and to submit their spiritual wants and 
shortcommings to his judgment. His sanctity and wis- 
dom lent his exhortations, reproofs and counsels that 
flavor which made them palatable even to the weakest 
or the most stubborn minds. The opinion of the nuns 
was unanimous that every one of Gerard's words pene- 
trated their hearts like a dart and inflamed them with 
love for Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. 

At that time there was in the convent a novice to 
whom the life of the cloister appeared altogether too 
severe, and who thought of returning to the world; 
Gerard called for her and spoke to her about the 
advantages of the religious state; but he spoke with 
such warmth and power that she who had been tempted 
against her vocation, henceforth thought of nothing 
more than of how to become a holy religious. 

Another Sister was very much tormented by scruples ; 
no one could quiet her conscience satisfactorily. One 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 391 

interview with Gerard, who himself told her what was 
troubling her, proved most successful. The servant of 
God also gave her advice how she should act in such 
temptations, so that she might rid herself of mental 
sufferings. 

Whenever Gerard had a favorable opportunity he 
labored with redoubled zeal to renew the fervor of the 
religious. As often as he had an interview with them, 
he exhorted them to observe the Eules most faithfully ; 
he recommended to them the worthy, frequent and 
devout reception of the sacraments. He attacked 
abuses without mercy. In doing this he exhibited 
the greatest prudence and forbearance, and also con- 
vinced all of the importance of abiding by his counsel ; 
his efforts were generally crowned with success. Only 
in one point did the otherwise tractable and docile 
nuns show a little stubborness. 

The parlor of the Sisters was in an unusual place; 
the grate faced the vestibule of the church. This 
circumstance, besides other evils, could easily be the 
occasion of faults against the respect due to the holy 
place. Gerard was greatly displeased with this arrange- 
ment. He spoke of it to the Abbess, and informed her 
that it was her duty to remedy the evil. The Abbess 
however remarked that in this matter she could not 
act herself, but was obliged to consult the community. 
Her interview with the Sisters was however fruitless ; 
they could not agree. This petty stubborness of the relig- 
ious displeased Gerard greatly ; he complained of it to 
Father Margotta and said he could not understand 
how so wretched a little matter, a sacrifice of which 
would please our Lord, could create so much difficulty. 
Father Margotta advised him to address a few earnest 
words to the community at his afternoon visit. The 
servant of God spoke accordingly. The result of his 
discourse was that all the nuns declared that the evil 



392 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

should be remedied. Gerard wished that the matter 
be attended to at once ; but they pleaded that the day 
was too far advanced to do any thing ; on the following 
morning, they said, the work was to begin at once. In 
the meantime, the minds of these fickle women 
changed and when they spoke about the work during 
the evening recreation, so many objections were raised 
against it that the resolution that had been made was 
given up and it was decided that the execution of the 
plan be postponed. While the nuns were coming to 
this decision, Gerard saw their wavering and their 
desertion from their former resolution. A noticeable 
sadness immediately came over him, and as Father 
Margotta asked why he was so sad, Gerard answered : 
"I am troubled about those nuns." On the following 
morning he went to the convent, called for the Abbess 
and asked -whether they still abided by the resolution 
which had been made. The Abbess answered in a 
general way, and betrayed the greatest embarrassment ; 
nothing positive, she said, had been urged against the 
matter, and there was no difficulty in the way. "What! 
no difficulty in the way!" interposed Gerard. "But let 
it pass 1 , we shall not speak of the matter. Yesterday 
you did not -wish to change ; and now it shall not take 
place." Then he left the convent. His last words, 
however, were not spoken without knowledge of the 
future. 

In fact, although the nuns often thought of putting 
the grate elsewhere, the change was never accomplished. 
Only after the death of the nuns who did not wish 
to act according to Gerard's words, was the change 
effected. 

In the meantime, Father Margotta had finished the 
business which he had to settle in his native place, and 
now prepared to return to Naples. The servant of God 
also received orders to accompany him. Toward the 



OTHEll APOSTOLIC LABORS. 393 

end of February, or the beginning of March, 1755, the 
two Redemptorists arrived at the Capital. 

As the first sojourn of the saintly brother at Naples 
had been a chain of miracles and of works of charity, 
so was also this second visit. 

In order not to be the subject of everybody's conver- 
sation, as this would cause him many annoyances, he 
now more than ever shunned the more frequented 
places of the city and generally walked through quiet 
and secluded little streets. 

If this mode of proceeding on his part had for him 
some advantage, it also had its annoyances, for Gerard 
was once placed in a position which was most undesir- 
able, as he was obliged to threaten parties with God's 
anger and to see the threat immediately fulfilled, in a 
terrible manner. 

One of the narrow little streets through which he 
used to pass M r as that between the Queen's Convent, 
(Monastero di D. Regina) and "S. Guiseppe dei Ruffi." 
During his first stay in the city, two lewd women had 
the boldness to ridicule and to scoff at him as he was 
modestly walking along the street. Neither his pat- 
ience nor the influence of time was able to moderate 
the insolence of these Avretched women. When Gerard 
made his appearance at Naples again they behaved 
worse than before. They waited for him in the above- 
mentioned street, and when he was about to enter it 
they prevented it by placing themselves before him 
and uttering cries of derision. One of them held a 
tambourine in her hand, while the other had another 
instrument suspended from her neck. They then be- 
gan a kind of dance which was improper, and which 
they accompanied by gestures which were an outrage 
to decency. At this spectacle, holy anger flashed from 
the countenance of the saintly brother ; he stood still, 
and in an earnest tone of voice exclaimed : "You will 



394 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS*. 

riot put an end to your wicked conduct ? Well, then, 
do you wish to see how terribly God can punish?" 
This threat had scarcely come from the lips of Gerard 
when one of the women, as if struck by a thunderbolt, 
fell to the ground, exclaiming: "O Madonna, I am dy- 
ing!" Quite unconscious, she was earned home by 
some men who had been attracted by her cry. 

This holy anger of Gerard, unfollowed by any sad 
consequences, was experienced by a certain vagrant 
and imposter who, relying upon the compassion of the 
people pretended to be a cripple in order to obtain 
alms. Daily was he seen near our house creeping along 
on crutches, with one foot wrapped in rags, as if suffer- 
ing from a severe wound. Those who passed by were 
deceived and gave him abundant alms. The imposter 
was for a long time a subject of displeasure to Gerard, 
as his love for truth made him intolerant of every kind 
of dissimulation. Several times he exhorted him to 
give up -this mode of life, and to engage in some honest 
kind of labor. The rogue cared very little for such 
advice and continued his nefarious business. The 
good lay-brother then lost all patience ; having one day 
again met him begging in the street not only repri- 
manded him in the severest terms but tore away the 
rags from his foot. "You vile wretch," he cried out, 
"if you do not wish to be damned, cease mocking God 
and your neighbor!" The imposter, much frightened, 
let his crutches fall and ran away as fast as he could. 

Though the servant of God, during his second 
appearance at Naples, took great care not to attract 
attention, he secured this in a particular manner when he 
applied his miraculous gift. This gift could not remain 
idle in him, for it was an instrument of his glowing 
charity that was always ready to assist others. But 
he endeavored to conceal it as much as possible. Thus, 
one day while conversing with a friend named Don 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 395 

Philip Eossi, from Caposele, near the church of the 
Holy Ghost, two ladies approached him. "O my dear 
Brother Gerard," exclaimed one of them, with tears in 
her eyes, "do come and cure my poor little daughter." 
However much Gerard felt inclined to oppose what 
the lady desired, he had not the heart absolutely to 
refuse her petition. Still, in order to keep himself 
in the background as much as possible he did not 
wish to appear at the bedside of the sick child except 
as a messenger sent by another. He therefore said: 
"Yes, I will visit your daughter, but I must first get 
permission." Only after he had done this did he has- 
ten to where he had been called. From this time forward 
he always acted in this manner. The success of his 
efforts he would then ascribe to the power of obedience, 
hoping thereby to divert all admiration from himself. 

The number of visitors was not less than during his 
first visit at the Capital. Persons of every condition 
in life, priests and laymen, even very learned men and 
eminent directors of souls, came to consult him. 

There is a letter extant, written at this time by Ger- 
ard, which enables us to realize how much he was re- 
spected even by his own brethren, and by aged Fathers 
of the Congregation. It is addressed to Father Francis 
Garzilli, who Avas distinguished by his learning, as 
well as by his piety. Himself a spiritual man, before 
his entrance into the Congregation a Canon at Foggia, 
and, now a venerable man of seventy, he was in his old 
age troubled by many scruples and had therefore ap- 
plied to the servant of God for counsel, help and con- 
solation. The beautiful answer which he received is 
as follows : — 

"May divine grace fill the heart of your Reverence,, 
and may the Blessed Virgin preserve it for you ! 

"Oh my dear Father, I am filled with joy and conso- 
lation on account of the game which the Divine Majesty 



396 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

is playing with you. I confidently hope that our Lord 
will grant you a complete victory. Well then ! do not 
fear, but be of good cheer, for the Lord is with you, 
and will not abandon you. 

"Your Eeverence has doubts about your confes- 
sions. Ah ! the fears which God permits to come over 
you in this respect, should serve you as a slight morti- 
fication. You say that you have been the cause of 
these troubles. Certainly, you must be convinced of 
this ; for if you believed the contrary to be true, you 
would not be so uneasy. But this is the way the 
Divine Majesty treats His favorites ; He allows them 
to think that all their trials are a consequence of their 
negligence. If your Reverence could conceive the 
thought that all this conies from God, where would 
there be trials and sufferings ? Eveiy thing would be 
changed for you into a paradise on earth ! 

"Besides, though we commit many little faults, and 
often stumble, let us remember that even the saints on 
earth were not pure angels. Confide and hope in God, 
my dear Father, and recommend me — oh, I beg you 
for the love you bear me ! — recommend me to Jesus 
Christ and to Mary, the Blessed Virgin, who, I hope, 
may abundantly bless us both!" 

Gerard's friendship for Father Pepe during his first 
stay at Naples suffered no diminution during his absence, 
and now the servant of God is frequently associated 
with this noble-minded man. They needed, each 
others services, as it were, in order to promote the 
honor of God and the salvation of souls. Gerard again 
drew largely from Father Pepe's treasures. 

A letter written by the servant of God on the 8th. of 
March, 1755, to the venerable Sister Mary Ccelestis 
Costarosa in Foggia confirms this. In this letter he 
informed her that he had applied in behalf of the con- 
vent, to Father Pepe and obtained a considerable num - 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 397 

ber of indulgences which the Sisters could gain on the 
different feasts of the year. What he asked as a re- 
muneration for this favor he indicates at the end of 
his letter in the following words : "Preserve this mem- 
orandum, I beg of you, so that those coming after you 
may avail themselves of these favors. At the same 
time I would remind you all of your obligation to pray 
for me, and also to apply to my soul these indulgences 
when I am dead. This I recommend to all the Super- 
iors that come after you with the additional request to 
offer for my soul one or the other Holy Commun- 
ion. I must also earnestly beg the Superior who will 
preside over the community at the time of my death to 
have offered up for my benefit all the communions the 
Sisters will receive during eight days as also the indul- 
gences that they will be able to gain for me during the 
same time. I shall not forget to recommend you to the 
Lord, that He may make you saints. Amen." 

These words of the servant of God were regarded by 
the religious as a last will and testament. Gerard was 
remembered after his death as he had desired, and the 
memorandum written by him was preserved with great 
veneration. It was used even among the sick after 
the manner of a relic, and not unsuccessfully. In 1840, 
God glorified His servant by means of it, for in this 
year, Sister Raphaela Pitasse, who was suffering from 
a disease of the eyes took the manuscript of the holy 
brother, touched her diseased eyes with it, and was 
immediately freed from pain. 

Gerard's second visit to Naples was not less fruitful 
than the first in results. Neither was it to be of longer 
duration. After the feast of Pentecost, May 18th., 1755, 
Gerard was commissioned to leave Naples and return 
to.Caposele; he was to accompany the Fathers on a 
mission given in Calitri, probably from the 25th. of May 
till the 8th. of June. Accordingly, during the week of 



398 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

Pentecost the servant of God left the Capital, which he 
was never to see again, and hastened to Calitri to the 
mission. 

"During this mission," says Father Tannoja, "he 
again performed things that Mere incredible. Prophe- 
cies, conversions, and reading of peoples' consciences 
daily occurred ; the chief task of the Fathers was to 
absolve sinners whom the good brother had moved to 
contrition." 

The missionaries lived, as formerly Father Margotta 
did, at the house of the Berilli family. Here it one 
day happened that the servant of God avIio was occu- 
pied in the kitchen, let a large jar containing oil fall so 
that it broke into pieces, and all the oil was poured 
out on the floor. On seeing this accident, the little 
daughter of the family began to scream and uttered 
some coarse, abusive words against the brother. In 
order to find out the cause of the angry outcry of the 
child her mother hurried to the kitchen and rebuked 
her for her conduct ; but when she saw what had hap- 
pened, she ran quickly to procure some cotton with 
which to catch up the oil which had been spilt. In the 
meantime, Gerard picked up the pieces of the broken 
jar as if he wished to put them away. When, however, 
the woman returned to secure the oil she perceived that 
the jar that had been broken was entire and filled with 
oil, and that it contained a larger quantity than before. 
The astonishment of both mother and daughter was 
very great, and Gerard withdrew to give thanks to the 
Lord Who had so happily helped him out of his per- 
plexity. When, after a short time a search was made 
for Gerard he was found in his room, immovable on 
his knees, his eyes raised towards heaven. This fact 
Avas attested by the girl who had been present and 
who subsequently took the veil in the convent at Calitri; 
1 also by several inhabitants of the city. 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 399 

At the close of the mission, probably on the 9th. of 
June, Gerard returned to Caposele, not to take rest as 
seemed necessary, but to make new efforts, and to take 
upon himself new cares for the honor of God and the 
salvation of souls. Soon after his return he found an 
opportunity to display his zeal. On the 19th. of June, 
Monsignor Joseph Nicolai, Archbishop of Conza, a 
great patron of our house at Caposele, came to spend 
a few daj^s there. He was accompanied by -his secre- 
tary, a la} r man, a Roman by birth, a man specially en- 
deared to the Archbishop on account of his great skill 
in transacting business, and greatly beloved by all be- 
cause of his social deportment. Wherever he happened 
to be, all sadness was banished, his sparkling wit 
and his unfailing playful humor enlivened every social 
entertainment, while his courteous and refined manners 
attracted general admiration. In a short time this 
Roman was regarded by the inmates of the house at 
Caposele as their most favorite guest. Even Gerard 
from the very beginning showed him great affection, 
which he always exhibited, as far as modesty allowed. 
He treated him most kindly, indulged in many an un- 
restrained easy talk with him, laughed at his jokes and 
answered them in like humorous manner. But the 
reason of this friendliness on the part of Gerard was 
by no means to be found, as was also the case with 
others, in the man's attractive manners. His super- 
naturally enlightened glance had quickly informed him 
that he who exhibited so joyous a disposition allowed 
his conscience to remain in a most lamentable condit- 
ion. If, therefore, Gerard treated him with exceptional 
kindness it was only because he hoped to win his con- 
fidence in this manner. In order to pave the way to 
his conversion, he deemed an exhibition of kindness 
an essential condition. 

In fact, this "hunter of souls," as Father Tannoja 



400 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

calls the servant of God, was not disappointed in his 
hope. Fortunately for him, the sinner was caught in 
a net which Gerard's charity had spread. 

One day when Gerard again saw the secretary very 
cheerful he most cordially embraced him, and pressed 
him to his bosom. This mark of affection produced a 
mysterious effect upon the sinner. As if a clear light 
had flowed from the heart of the brother to his own 
he instantly felt in his interior unusual disquiet and re- 
morse of conscience. He was at the same time attrac- 
ted to the servant of God by special confidence and now 
sought his society and conversation more frequently. 

When Geard noticed that grace had opened the first 
furrows and that seed could now be profitably soAvn, 
he resolved to take a more decided step. He called 
the secretary to the oratory of the house and cast him- 
self, weeping, at his feet. The man knew not the 
meaning of this, but soon understood. In plain words 
the brother made a disclosure to him that was as un- 
expected as it was startling. "O my friend !" said he, 
with emotion : "I do not understand how you can be 
so constantly cheerful, for you are living at enmity 
with God. You cannot deny that you are married, 
and have left your wife at Rome. How can you pre- 
tend that you are single ; how can you dare to deceive 
an unfortunate woman?" Gerard continued in this 
way, to scourge the secretary for his wicked life, and 
pointed out to him the exact time in which his wicked- 
ness and neglect of his soul's salvation originated. 

The poor sinner stood dumbfounded ! He then fell 
on his knees and acknowledged that what Gerard said 
was true ; that he really had led such a wicked life, and 
had committed such crimes. He finally begged the 
servant of God to advise him how he should again 
walk in the path of duty. 

Gerard rejoiced at the work of grace; exhorted the 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 401 

penitent man to have confidence in the divine mercy ; 
counselled him to correct the disordered state of his 
soul immediately, and to communicate with Father 
Fiocchi who was just then at Caposele waiting on the 
Archbishop. 

Pale with fear and dejection, the secretary called 
upon the Father, and related in detail what had 
happened to him through Brother Gerard; and how 
the latter had converted him. 

"Only God or the devil," he concluded, "could have 
made my condition knoAvn to him; but it could not 
have been the devil, as I was truly moved to sorrow 
and contrition." 

Father Fiocchi, who knew Gerard very well, had no 
difficulty in admitting that the repentant secretary was 
right in his conclusion. He heard his confession, 
instructed him how to repair the great wrong which he 
had committed, and above all advised him to carry 
out, as soon as possible, his resolution to return to his 
wife. 

When, after his confession, the secretary was going 
to the Church to receive Holy Communion, he again 
experienced the wonderful help and care of the servant 
of God. At the entrance of the church Gerard met 
him and asked where he was going. "I am going to 
Holy Communion," answered the secretary. "But," 
said the brother, "you forgot to confess a certain sin. 
Go and confess it, and then you may receive our Lord 
in peace." The converted man was obedient also in 
this point, went back to his confessor, and had the 
consolation of approaching the holy banquet with the 
conviction that here again he was fully the recipient of 
God's mercy. 

Necessarily, the interior change had to exercise its 
influence over the exterior. The. sentiments of com- 
punction, of deep contrition, and of holy sadness which 



402 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

controlled his hea t were very soon noticeable in his 
whole behavior. The man who had formerly been in 
a continually cheerful humor, from whose lips jocose 
words escaped every moment, became at once serious, 
quiet and reserved. He was often seen with moistened 
eyes and heard to sob aloud. Every one was astonished 
at this, and the Archbishop, who did not su^peet what 
had happened to his secretary, sent for him and asked 
him about this new phenomenon. His answer was a 
flood of tears, and the words which in the Gospel are 
put in the mouth of the Samaritan woman to whom 
our Lord manifested all her secret sins: "Venite et 
videte hominem, qui dixit mihi omnia, qusecumque 
feci!" (Come and see the man who has told me all 
things whatsoever I have done!) Hereupon he ack- 
nowledged to the Archbishop in all sincerity what 
his spiritual condition had been, that Gerard had drawn 
him out of darkness and shadow of death, and had 
awakened in his soul thoughts and desires of which he 
formerly had no notion. 

This sanctity of the servant of God was not unknown 
to Monsignor Nicolai; this event, however, greatly 
increased his esteem for the I10I3' brother. He requested 
some one to tell him all the particulars of Gerard's 
miracles, and did not neglect to draw profit for himself 
from the holy brother's heavenly wisdom. In the 
interviews which he usually held with him, he often 
found such consolation that, rilled with pleasant 
emotions, he would shed tears ; and although he was 
of a very reserved disposition, at his departure he gave 
Gerard the most lively proofs of his attachment and 
respect, and recommended himself to his prayers. "O 
Monsignor," answered Gerard, quite confused by so 
much kindness, "I need God's entire mercy to save 
myself, and I ask your Grace rather to remember me 
at the altar." 



OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 403 

The secretary's good resolves never wavered, liis 
sentiments never changed after he had lost sight of 
Gerard. Having returned to St. Andrea where the 
Archbishop usually resided, the change that had taken 
place in him created general comment. "What is the 
matter?" he was asked one day by the director of the 
seminary, Don Jacob Bozzio. "I no longer notice 
your former cheerfulness; I cannot understand the 
change." "Very naturally," he answered, "for you do 
not know what happened to me at Caposele. Alas! 
my dear friend, I am not a single man, as I pretended to 
be, but am married, and brother Gerard showed me 
most clearly the sad condition of my soul." The good 
man was now so filled with contrition for his past 
irregularities that it Avas not difficult for him to tell 
everyone how things had formerly been, and how bro- 
ther Gerard had led him back to a correct path. 

Monsignor Nicolai no longer kept him in his service, 
but sent him to Eome as soon as possible, with a letter 
of recommendation addressed to Monsignor Casone, 
his relative. 

There too the converted man narrated everything 
that happened to him while he was at the house of the 
Redemptorists at Caposele, and what brought him back 
to Rome. Thus, in the Capital of the Catholic world 
he procured for the servant of God friends and admirers. 
Moreover, according to the testimony of Father Cajone, 
he kept up with the servant of God till the latter's 
death, a pious correspondence, of which, unfortunately, 
nothing is in existence. 

While Monsignor Casone was one day conversing 
with a Roman Cardinal, he related among other things 
what had occurred to the secretary of the Archbishop 
of Conza. The Cardinal was not only astonished at 
what he heard, but was seized with a great desire 
to become acquainted with Gerard. He therefore 



404 OTHER APOSTOLIC LABORS. 

wrote specially to the Archbishop, and asked him to 
send the brother to Rome. When the letter reached 
its destination, the servant of God was no longer among 
the living. 



CHAPTEE XXIV. 

Last Undertaking And Last Joukneyings. 



The remaining time of Gerard's life was to be de- 
dicated to a work of obedience and fraternal charity. 
It was a work which, being in total contradiction to Ger- 
ards quiet and reserved disposition and to his ever in- 
creasing desire for solitude, became the last and glor- 
ious proof of his religious spirit. 

The house at Caposele was a new foundation, there- 
fore small and inconvenient. In a short time they felt 
the necessity of building several additions. This was 
done as soon as their means permitted. 

When Gerard returned from Naples to Caposele, he 
found the house full of workmen, masons and carpen- 
ters; building material of all kinds was lying about, 
and during the whole day the noise of the work and 
the cries of the workmen were heard. If the servant 
of God in returning home from a thickly populated 
and noisy city rejoiced at the prospect of the solitude 
and quiet he was to enjoy, he found his pleasure spoilt, 
and recognized an opportunity to make a great sacri- 
fice to the Lord. 

But the annoyances and distractions occasioned by 
the erection of the building itself was not the greatest 
sacrifice the Lord demanded of him. 

Father Cajone thought it well to appoint the servant 
of God as the superintendent of the building, and to 
assign to him the charge of the workmen employed, 
the procuring of the necessary conveyances, the proper 
awarding of wages, and such things. This very dis- 
tracting office was not in harmony with the disposition 
of Gerard's soul ; much less was it suited to his bodily 



406 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

strength. The obedient brother, however, trusted in 
God, willingly accepted the task and was very soon 
acquainted to the new duties which he fulfilled with 
wonderful ardor and zeal. His simple faith permitted 
him to see in this charge nothing else than the will of 
God, and his confidence prompted him to pass un- 
noticed whatever objections human prudence might 
offer. 

Gerard was not satisfied with merely doing what 
was easy, such as the ordinary superintendence of the 
work and a few general instructions : he took an active 
part in the work, and gave orders and advice wherever 
needed. He was the first at work, giving all an example 
of diligence and activity. Now he was at the sand-pit 
there helping to dig, again at the brick-kiln, then about 
the little town hiring men to carry building materials. 
Day and night we might say, he was on his feet. Amid 
these labors he forgot his bodily wants, and what Avas 
still more important, suppressed the longing for quiet 
prayers before the tabernacle. 

That this activity in a man of miracles could not pass 
by without apparent suppernatural help is easily 
understood. 

One day the Rector was in great distress about the 
wages due the workmen and said to Gerard : "How shall 
we be able to pay these people? In a few days, Satur- 
day comes and payment must be made." "O !" answered 
the confident builder, "send in a petition to our Lord 
in the Blessed Sacrament." His advice met with 
approval, the petition was drawn up and given to its 
originator that he might present it. "Brother Gerard," 
said Father Cajone to him, "you must now help us in 
our trouble." Forthwith Gerard hastened to the church 
with the petition and laid it on the altar. He then 
rapped in childlike simplicity at the tabernacl and said : 
"Thou seest, dear Lord, here is our petition ; answer 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 407 

it!" Iii order to obtain a favorable answer, lie remained 
on his knees before the altar the whole night, from 
Friday till Saturday, and implored his Master for help 
in behalf of the house. 

At daybreak he repeated the knocking at the taber- 
nacle door, which was the outward expression of his 
most earnest prayer to the Father of the poor. A short 
time after he heard the door-bell ring; hastening, 
he found two little bags rilled with money. The per- 
plexity of the Superior was now removed. Donato 
Spicci, who was in the convent when this miracle was 
wrought asked for a few of the coins that had been sent 
from heaven and took them with him to Muro. 

Even the elements seemed at times to heed and 
respect the zeal and obedience of the servant of God. 
Gerard was one day obliged to go to town on business. 
As he was preparing to leave the Jiouse a thunder- 
storm which threatened broke forth with great violence 
when he had barely crossed the treshold. Rain fell in 
torrents, accompanied by lightning and thunder. But 
this did not prevent the servant of God from attending 
to his errand, though Father Cajone did not wish that 
Gerard should get wet, and sent to call him back. The 
messenger found that he was already on the public 
street, but noticed that he was walking along quietly. 
How great was his astonishment when he saw that not 
even a thread of Gerard's garments had become wet. 
The servant of God, however, returned immediately 
when told that the Superior wished him to come back. 

This wonderful exemption, as several other incidents 
proved at that time, applied not only to inanimate but 
even more so to animate creatures. 

On a certain occasion while Gerard was staying at 
the house of the Illario family, he was standing on the 
veranda, when he saw a rooster proudly strutting up 
the street. Floweis, birds or any other creatures of 



408 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

God reminded the servant of God of his Creator. Thus 
also did the rooster in the street remind him of the 
omnipotence of God, and he joyfully called out to 
the fowl: "Come here! come here! little creature of 
God!" and behold! as if the rooster understood his 
words, he stretched out his wings, and beating the 
air, he came to Gerard, in two or three bounds and 
lay down as chickens do when they are resting. The 
brother fondled the fowl which remained with him 
a long time without fear. 

It frequently happened that the birds responded to 
his call. The} 7 would fly towards him, and sit fearlessly 
on his hand. 

A cry uttered by him was at times sufficient to con- 
trol the most furious animals. Gerard was once stand- 
ing with his former good master, Vitus Mennona at a 
window of the college when there came dashing along 
a frightened horse whose rider could no longer check 
the animal that was rushing on towards the precipice 
down which he would certainly have been hurled. "He 
is lost!" every one exclaimed. The servant of God, 
however, stretching forth his hands towards the rider 
cried out: "O holy Virgin, help!" He then turned to 
the bystanders and said : "He will fall, but will not be 
hurt." And this really happened. The infuriated 
animal had scarcely heard the voice of the servant of 
God when it stopped short at the precipice, throwing 
the rider off, but without injury. 

While Gerard was actively engaged in the building 
of the house, the Archbishop of Conza, of whom Ave 
spoke in the last chapter, arrived to pay the Fathers a 
visit. In order to furnish the latter with some aid for 
the benefit of their house, he made them a present of 
three hundred ducats himself and issued a circular in 
which he asked his priests and people to contribute 
something towards the building of the convent at Capo- 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 409 

sele, which had already proved so beneficial to all the 
people in his diocese. He desired the Rector to send 
some of his religious to collect in the various parishes. 
However much Gerard was needed at home, and how- 
ever successfully the building was going on under his 
direction, the famous gatherer of alms of Iliceto natur- 
ally attracted the attention of Father Cajone, when the 
latter in obedience to the wish of the Archbishop was 
to send some one to collect the subscriptions to the 
building fund. The saintly brother had already found 
an opportunity to prove his fitness for so delicate a 
business. 
; Yet, it was Gerard's health that made the Superior 
waver in the resolution to burden him again with this 
office. It was in the middle of the summer ; the heat 
was excessive ; many places that he was obliged to visit 
were unhealthy during this season ; and it was feared 
that the weak lay-brother, who never spared himself, 
would not be able to bear up against the exertion. 
! In his perplexity, Father Cajone finally sent for 
Gerard, asked him how he felt, and unfolded to him 
his half -formed plan. The servant of God told hint 
with all sincerity how matters stood in regard to his 
health, but declared that he was ready to devote all 
lis strength to the undertaking. 

.. Then Father Cajone, as if he wished to express his 
satisfaction at Gerard's willingness, put his hand on 
the latter's head without uttering a word. Inwardly 
he, however, spoke as follows: "In the name of the 
Most Blessed Trinity I wish you to be well and to go 
on this collecting tour." Gerard at once smiled and 
looked at the Rector. "Why are you laughing?" said 
the Superior. "Your Reverence," answered Gerard, 
"is not saying anything, and yet you speak; you wish 
that I should be well and go out collecting. Well, I 
will be in good health and will undertake the office of 



410 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

collector. Yes, my Father, yes; I will be obedient; 
I will be well!" 

This wonderful knowledge appeared to Father Cajone 
as a pledge of the divine will that Gerard should be 
appointed to collect the contributions; he therefore 
commanded him to do so. 

The good brother at once prepared to set out, and 
began his journey in the latter part of July, 1755. 

Senerchia was the first place he visited. Here the 
building of a church had just been begun. A neighbor- 
ing forest was to furnish the necessary timber, and im- 
mense chestnut trees had already been cut down and 
were ready for transportation. The requisite means 
for shipping were wanting. The inhabitants had en- 
deavored to move these large trees, but they were pon- 
derous and immovable. When the servant of God had 
heard of their perplexity, he said : "Take courage ; it 
is God's church, and God will take care that it is fin- 
ished." He was conducted to the forest, fell on his 
knees, and asked God to help these people. He then 
asked for a rope, selected the largest of the trees, and 
tied the rope to it. "Well, now, creature of God," he 
exclaimed, "in the name of the Most Blessed Trinity, 
I command you to follow me." He then began to pull, 
and to the astonishment of those present he dragged 
the immense tree to the place where they were to build 
the church, and did this as easily as if he had been 
dragging after him a wisp of straw. He exhorted the 
people to imitate him, and to set to work, and, behold! 
the wonderful strength of the servant of God seemed 
to have passed into all of them ; for with the greatest 
ease they dragged the trees to their destined places. 

Besides this miracle, mention is made by biographers 
of the cure of a woman, at Senerchia; she was near 
death in consequence of childbirth. We are also in- 
formed of an ecstasy with which he was seized in the 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 411 

church before all the people, and which released him 
so far from physical laws that he remained suspended 
several feet above the earth, just as if he were held in 
the air by an invisible power. 

"But," adds Father Tannoja in the narration of these 
facts, "this was not the only wonder ; he performed 
many other works of charity, which for brevity's sake I 
shall pass over." 

The inhabitants of Senerchia were always gratefully 
devoted to the servaut of God. They acknowledged 
him to be a great saint, and after his death they 
invoked him as their patron in heaven. 

A certain woman relates: "There is no one at Seuer- 
chia who has not chosen the venerable brother to be 
his special patron. We add one 'Pater' and one 'Ave' to 
our morning prayers to thank the Most Blessed Trinity 
for the gifts which we have received through the servant 
of God. Every body recommends himself to him in 
difficulties ; and as our family has the happiness to 
possess a tooth of the servant of God; people are con- 
stantly calling upon us for this relic." 

From Senerchia, Gerard's journey took him to Oliveto 
where he was to lodge at the house of Archpriest Don 
Angelo Salvatore. Gerard had written to him announ- 
cing his arrival. The letter concluded with these 
words : "Your Reverence desired to become acquainted, 
with me. a sinful man. Well! the Lord has fulfilled 
your wish." 

When Salvatore read these words he was very much 
astonished, for he had entertained the desire to know 
this wonderful man, but had never communicated this 
wish to any one. 

Don Salvatore received Gerard with the greatest 
reverence and cordiality. As Gerard was embracing 
him he whispered into his ear : "Did you read the last 
words of nry letter?" Salvatore feigned ignorance of 



412 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

what Gerard meant. "Yes," lie said, "I noticed the 
•words, 'Your very unworthy servant' and was astonished 
at your humility." "Not those words, not those words !" 
"I also read the words : 'Your brother in Jesus Christ.' " 
"Neither do I mean that expression." "But what 
then?" "Ah!" Gerard now answered with sincerity: 
"I meant the words : 'You have been wishing to see me. 
Now the Lord has sent me to you.' " 

This first proof of miraculous power, which the 
happy archpriest witnessed was confirmed and increas- 
ed by other and greater ones. 

The hour for dinner had arrived and Gerard did not 
appear. Don Angelo therefore went to the room of his 
guest, but instead of entering it, he remained standing 
before the door, and only looked through the key-hole. 
He then saw the servant God in an exstasy, about three 
feet above the floor. He was deeply moved by this 
spectacle and retired in silence. After a little while 
he went to the brother's room again and found him in 
the same state. No one thought any more about dinner. 
Don Salvatore related what he had seen to the mem- 
bers of the household who were all deeply moved. 
"When Gerard had returned, to consciousness he was 
quite inflamed, and as if nothing had happened said to 
the priest : "Pray do not let me be a burden to your 
household." 

The archpriest, in order to perpetuate the memory 
of this incident had a mark put into the wall of the 
room which the servant of God sanctified by his pres- 
ence, testifying that Gerard was raised to such a height 
by an ecstasy. 

The archpriest was convinced of Gerard's sanctity 
as the brother confessed to him daily while at Oliveto. 
The servant of God confessed daily in order to receive 
Holy Communion with greater purity. Salvatore there- 
fore had opportunity to become acquainted with an 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 413 

angel of innocence, in his most profound humility and 
self-abasement; and through the confessions of this 
brother he was himself stimulated to the practice of 
virtue. 

The first of the ecstasies noticed by Don Angelo 
had greatly excited the pious curiosity of all the in- 
mates of the house. The life of the holy brother be- 
came the object of special study. Only in this man- 
ner was it possible to discover what Gerard endeavored 
so assiduously to conceal. At Don Salvatore's house 
people could speak in detail of the fasting of the ser- 
vant of God for he allowed himself only two ounces of 
food ; of his vigils, taking only two hours sleep, and of 
the bloody flagellations and other tortures with which 
he afflicted his body. Yet everything that curiosity 
could observe only served to edify them, and Gerard's 
presence at the house served as a mission and was 
equivalent to an impressive sermou. 

The. servant of God found opportunity for his zeal 
outside of the house and influenced men's minds in his 
own peculiar way. 

Father Tannoja and others relate, by way of illus- 
tration, two occurrences which created a profound 
sensation. One day Gerard noticed a great crowd 
gathered around an unfortunate man who, acting like 
a maniac, inflicted blows right and left allowing no 
one to come near him. Approaching him, Gerard at 
once discovered the real cause of the frightful condition 
of the man. He went up to him and said without fear : 
"who are you?" The answer was: "lam the devil." 
"In the name of the Most Blessed Trinity, I command 
you to leave this creature," said the servant of God; 
and with the words : "Yes, I will go, but I shall pay 
you off for this," the demon ceased controlling the 
body of the unfortunate man. 

On another occasion the brother saw standing before 



414 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

the house a little child, the son of Philip Iiielli, and 
seemed terrified at the sight of him. "O!" he cried 
out, "what a monster is growing up in Oliveto !" These 
words created some excitement, but no one understood 
their meaning. The future, however, proved but too 
plainly the reason of Gerard's cry of terror, for Michael 
Angelo, the child, had scarcely grown to boyhood 
when he seemed rilled with a malignant spirit that 
made him appear rather as a devil then a human being. 
When only fifteen years of age he wished to outrage 
his own sister, and having been sharply reprimanded 
by his father, on this account he attempted to take his 
father's life. He seized a gun and was on the point of 
committing the awful crime, when his father, seeing 
himself threatened and in extreme danger, undertook to 
defend himself. Being quicker than his son, he killed 
the monster, a term which Gerard had applied to him 
years before. 

Towards the end of July Gerard wu,s in Auletta, 
where he remained only one day, but his stay was no 
less rich in miracles. While walking through the 
public square he met a man who was a stranger to him 
and said: "My friend, how can you live in peace? 
On a certain occasion you committed a certain grievous 
sin which you have not yet confessed. Go quickly 
and confess it, and be concerned about the grace of our 
Lord Jesus Christ." The poor man was very much 
confused by the reprimand of the brother whom he 
had never before seen. Casting himself at his feet, he 
promised to amend his life, and immediately went to 
a priest in order to make his confession. He changed 
his life and persevered in his good resolutions till his 
death. 

The little daughter of Don Joseph Man was subject 
to convulsions. Gerard happened to be at her father's 
house when she had a very severe attack. Yielding to 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. -115 

the importunity of her parents he made tlie sign of the 
Cross over her, whereupon the spasms ceased and — 
what was more astonishing — never troubled her again. 

At Auletta, in the house of very poor people, his at- 
tention was called to a girl who had been lame and 
deformed from her birth, and could not move. Besides 
this evil, the poor creature was in extreme poverty and 
want. When, however, Gerard had been asked to re- 
commend her to the Lord, he said : "There is nothing 
the matter with her ; she is well." Gerard called the 
girl'to come to him, and behold! she arose from her 
bed, and hastened to the servant of God to kiss his 
hand. 

This miracle again occasioned an excitement that 
was very annoying to the saintly brother. Those per- 
sons Avho could not restrain their astonishment cried 
out in the street: "Miracle! miracle!" and pointed him 
out as the "saint!" There was prospect of a great con- 
course of people. As soon as Gerard observed what 
was going to happen, he fled to the house of a priest, 
Don Raphael Abbondati, who afterwards related the 
occurrence. The people, however, who had discovered 
his retreat followed him and cried out: "The saint! 
where is the saint?" 

As the tumult did not subside, Gerard began to think 
of flight. Through a door in the rear of the house he 
escaped unseen, and hurried through the street towards 
a neighboring place, called Yietri da Potenza, where 
he arrived quite tired, since he had to travel the whole 
way at the quickest pace. 

In Yietri he was accosted by a young woman of bad 
character. Jokingly she asked the religious for a pic- 
ture of the Madonna. He gave her one, but added : 
"Think of putting your affairs in order, and earnestly 
recommend yourself to the Blessed Yirgin, for you 
have only a few days to live." And Gerard had spoken 



416 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

the truth. This woman who was apparently in good 
health, had scarcely reached her home when she was 
seized with a violent fever. Luckily, she immediately 
recalled the words of the brother, sent for a priest at 
once, made her confession, repented of her past wicked 
life, and breathed her last, three days after her meeting 
with the servant of God. 

From Vietri the servant of God proceeded to San 
Gregorio, to the house of the Archpriest Robertazzi, to 
whom he was a stranger. Here he hoped to spend at 
least a few days in obscurity, and perhaps to merit the 
contempt and ridicule of others. "O my dear Lord 
Jesus," he exclaimed after being ushered to his room 
on the floor of which he prostrated himself, "I thank 
Thee with all my heart that Thou hast released me 
from so great a torture. Here no one knows me. Oh i 
I thank Thee !" But this release was not to last long. 
He whom God wishes to put on a candle-stick cannot 
hide himself ; at least he cannot remain long in seclus- 
ion. As the rays of the sun pass through the smallest 
crevice, so were the supernatural powers of the servant 
of God evident on the slightest occasion, and thus he 
became popular against his will. This was the case at 
San Gregorio. 

Even the loud sigh of joy to which he gave went in 
his little room and which he thought was unobserved, 
had been heard by his host who was led to the thought 
that he was giving shelter to a very pious, humble 
soul. 

He was fully convinced of this the following day. 
While he was familiarly conversing with Brother 
Gerard a gentleman accidentally arrived and without 
interrupting the conversation, listened and afterwards 
took part in it. Suddenly Gerard turned the conver- 
sation intentionally to a case of moral theology by 
addressing the following words to Robertazzi : "Your 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 417 

Reverence, if any one who inwardly lias made the 
resolution to commit adultery, but moved by the grace 
of God does not carry the resolution into effect, is he 
obliged to mention in confession the resolution he 
made, although he did not commit the sin in act?" 
The archpriest was surprised at this question, since it 
did not seem to pertain to what had just been dis- 
cussed; he however answered him in the manner in 
which theologians usually answer such a case. Soon 
after, the visitor prepared to go away. Before he 
took leave he seized the hand of the priest, drew him 
aside, and said to him in a tone of the greatest surprise : 
„You have a saint in your house. Every thing that 
this Brother Gerard proposed to you in the form of a 
question happened to me a short time ago. Blinded 
by the evil spirit, I had resolved to commit the crime, 
but did not accomplish it. I acknowledge this to my 
own shame, and to the honor of this holy man." Then 
it became clear to the archpriest why Gerard had put 
the strange question ; and his respect for him greatly 
increased. 

Till now the holy brother had been able to perform 
the arduous duties of his vocation in a very active 
manner. His health, though never strong, had not 
failed him. It was at the house of the Archpriest of 
San Gregorio that it began to decline. His hemorr- 
hages afflicted him to an alarming extent ; to this was 
added so violent a fever that he had to give up all 
thought of continuing his journey and a physician had 
to be summoned. The latter did not regard his 
condition as dangerous and was satisfied with merely 
bleeding him. Gerard, however, knew that this attack 
was nothing else than death's first knock at his door. 

Several months before he had spoken of the near 
approach of his death. It was Santorelli with whom he 
confidentially sp>oke on this subject. "My dear Doctor," 



418 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

he said to him in a cheerful tone of voice, "you do not 
know perhaps that I shall die this year, and that con- 
sumption will carry me off." "How do you know, dear 
brother?" asked Santorelli. "I have asked our Lord 
for this grace," answered Gerard, "and He has prom- 
ised to grant me the favor." "But why do you wish 
to die of consumption?" continued the doctor. "Be- 
cause I shall then be able to die more forsaken," ans- 
wered Gerard. "You see that although in our com- 
munity the greatest charity is exercised towards the 
sick, yet I know if I die of so tedious a disease the 
brethren will take less care of me." 

Even previous to this time he had foretold his ap- 
proaching death to Brother Januarius Rendina, and 
had also remarked that he had asked the Lord for the 
grace to die of consumption, and to die quite forsaken. 
The time was really fast approaching Avhen his prayer 
would be fully granted. After the declaration of the 
physician of San Gregorio that his condition was not 
serious Gerard did not hesitate to continue his journey. 
On Friday, the 22nd. of August, he journeyed to Buc- 
cino. On the evening of this day he again spat blood, 
and two physicians who had been hastily summoned 
again bled him. 

The following day he returned to Oliveto where the 
air was less keen, and was more suited to his condition. 
In spite of the short distance of Oliveto from Buccino 
the brother became exceedingly tired particularly since 
he had lost so much blood by having been bled. In 
order not to be disobedient to the physicians who had 
required a change of air he had voluntarily undertaken 
the distressing walk. 

In the evening he arrived at the house of his friend, 
Don Angelo Salvatore, where he immediately sat down 
and wrote a report to his Superior about the mishap 
that had befallen him. 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 419 

The letter — a masterpiece of simplicity, peace and 
conformity to the will of God — is dated August 23rd., 
and reads as follows : 

•'I must inform your Reverence that at the time in 
which I was kneeling in the church of San Gregorio I 
was surprised by a violent hemorrhage. A physician 
who had been called examined me and after having as- 
serted that I had neither fever nor headache, several 
times declared that the blood came rather from the 
throat than from the lungs, and assured me that the 
trouble was not serious. He then bled me, and this 
caused no inconvenience. Last eveniug I arrived at 
Buccinb ; there, just as I was going to bed, and was 
coughing as usual, the same thing happened to me as 
at San Gregorio. Two physicians who had been hastily 
called prescribed some remedies and again bled me. 
This time a vein of my foot was cut. The second hem- 
orrhage was accompanied by no greater pain than the 
first. These physicians also declared that the blood 
did not come from the lungs ; they nevertheless told 
me to return immediately to Oliveto. This I did the 
following morning, that is, to-day, partly to be able to 
breathe pure air, partly to consult Dr. Joseph Salvatore, 
who is an eminent physician. I did not find him on 
my arrival, but his brother, the archpriest, told me 
that he would be at home this evening. 

"I beg your Eeverence to tell me what I shall do. 
If you wish that I should come home at once, I will do 
so without delay. If you wish that I should continue 
on my collecting tour, I will do so most willingly. 
I seem to be in a better condition than when I was at 
Caposele ; nor do I cough so much. 

"To conclude : Send me a very emphatic command, 
and all will be well. It gives me pain to distress you, 
my dear Father; but do not be anxious about me. 
This trouble amounts to nothing. Recommend me to 



420 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

God that He may always grant me the grace to fulfil 
His holy will and to deserve His favor." 

This letter, which a special messenger delivered late 
in the evening in Caposele, gave considerable pain to 
Father Cajone. He immediately sent the bearer with 
a message to the servant of God, telling him to remain 
at Don Salvatore's house for the present, and earnestly 
recommended him to the charity of this pious family 
until he could be brought to Caposele. It was Saturday 
Avhen the people usually came for the evening Benedic- 
tion, so he requested their prayers for the sick brother. 
The Salvatore family were indeed happy to have this 
brother with them for a few days, he was so amiable 
and modest. Gerard however employed these days 
less for recreation than for the honor of God, and did 
not fail to manifest His gifts in a most extraordinary 
manner. 

On account of some business, Gerard sent a messen- 
ger to Caposele to a certain Lorenzo di Masi. "When 
the messenger arrived, the father of this man, named 
Stefano, was seized with a violent fever which made 
his son fear the worst. Lorenzo then wrote to the ser- 
vant of God, begging him to recommend his sick father 
to the Blessed Virgin. And, behold! "While Gerard 
was reading Lorenzo's letter at Oliveto, the sick man 
visibly gained his health at Caposele, though all hope 
of his recovery had been abandoned. 

Brother Francis Fiore had been appointed to join 
the servant of God at Oliveto ; he arrived there, but so 
shattered was he by fever, that on his entrance into 
Don Salvatore' s house he could not stand, much less 
ascend to the upper story where Gerard was. He was 
obliged to lie down in a room on the hrst floor ; and 
Don Joseph Salvatore, who was a physician immediate- 
ly paid a visit to the sick new-comer went up to tell 
Gerard of his arrival and of his condition. The news 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 421 

of the illness of Brother Francis made the servant of 
God somewhat thoughtful ; but he soon made up his 
mind. "You would do me a favor," he said, turning to 
Don Joseph, "if you would inform Brother Francis in 
my name that out of obedience he should drive away 
his fever, should arise and come to me, for our occu- 
pations have been assigned us and I have no time to 
nurse a sick man." Don Joseph smiled on receiving 
this message, (who would not be astonished at such a 
thing?) and objected to deliver it. "Do what' I tell 
you," said Gerard. In order not to oppose liim, Don 
Joseph went to the sick lay -brother and gave him Ger- 
ard's order which seemed altogether impracticable to 
him, but as soon as brother Francis had received the 
command he felt so well that he could without difficulty 
go up-stairs to Gerard. The latter received him with 
a reprimand. "How is this?" said he, "we have come 
here to gather alms, and you allow yourself to be 
seized with a fever ! "Well now ! out of obedience, do 
not allow it to attack you." "I will obey," answered 
Fiore. "Doctor, will you please feel his pulse?" said 
Gerard, turning to Don Joseph. The latter did so and 
found that the high fever had entirely left him. He, as 
well as the archpriest, was astonished, but Gerard en- 
deavored to moderate their surprise by saying : "Per- 
haps you wonder at this. You believe that this is a 
miracle ; no, it is the effect of obedience." 

At the same time the sister of Don Salvatore, Rosa 
by name, was lying sick of a fever. The servant of 
God visited her, and although he found her suffering 
greatly he said : "It is nothing, it is nothing." These 
were his usual w r ords when he healed the sick* She 
also recovered, as the examination by her brother im- 
mediately proved. 

After such experiences Don Salvatore could venture 
to recommend to the wonderful and saintly brother a 



422 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

sick person about whose cure lie was very much con- 
cerned, since the poor man's condition was a very sad 
one and worthy of great compassion. 

This sick man was Don Dominic Sassi, a priest, who 
was greatly troubled at first by scruples afterwards 
fell into deep melancholy till finally, overpowered, he 
led a wretched life. He usually remained locked up 
in his room where he howled and cried, and sometimes, 
without reason, broke out into imprecations, though 
his previous life had been blameless and pure. 

His mind had thus been enveloped in darkness for 
seven years during which time the unfortunate man 
could neither celebrate Mass nor receive Holy Commun- 
ion. His family did everything to restore his health. 
All medical help having been exhausted, recourse was 
had to supernatural means. The sick man was taken 
several times to visit the famous shrine of the Blessed 
Yirgin where earnest prayers were offered up for him 
to the "Comforter of the Afflicted." 

Application was then made to the saintly Father 
Cafaro, and the sufferer was sent to Caposele with the 
hope that this holy missionary might obtain for him a 
release from the dreadful malady. He too prayed over 
him for several days, without success, and Dominic 
was obliged to return to Oliveto, wretched as ever. 

God reserved the cure of the good priest for His 
humble servant Gerard, and inspired the brothers 
Salvatore to intercede Avith him most earnestly in 
behalf of the sick man. "But what can I do?" modest- 
ly asked the saintly brother. 

The latter, however, without the knowledge of the 
archpriest, immediately went to the sick man. The 
first impression which the servant of God made upon 
him was very unfavorable. Dominic, as usual, broke 
out into violent cries and imprecations. This produced 
very little effect upon the servant of God, he made the 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 423 

sign of the Cross upon the unruly man, and quieted 
him. There was a piano in the room. Gerard told 
him to sit down and play, and both sang the Litany of 
the Blessed Virgin. A great commotion was created 
in the house when the voice of the priest was heard ; 
all rejoiced that he had again become cheerful, and 
Don Angelo Salvatore could not refrain from shedding 
tears when he was informed of what had happened. 

Dominic was fully restored and could have gone to 
the altar the following morning, but Gerard desired 
him to abstain from the celebration of Mass for two 
days. 

In the evening of the day on which the cure had 
taken place the saintly brother said to the members of 
the Salvatore family and to the other persons of the 
house who had taken an interest in the sick man: "The 
day after to-morrow, Don Dominic will say Mass; I 
should be glad if all of you would receive Holy Com- 
munion." This proposal was received with great joy. 
Every one was desirous of seeing the good priest at 
the altar celebrating Mass after the lapse of seven 
years, and to receive our Lord from the hand into 
which the servant of God had, as it were, again put 
Him. 

The 28th. of August was the day appointed for this 
celebration. On this occasion Dominic's friends and 
relatives assembled to conduct him to the church. The 
saintly brother was to lead, and to be the first to 
receive Holy Communion at his hands. 

All had come to the festival, but Gerard had not yet 
arrived. They waited for him for some time, but as he 
did not make his appearance, some one went to his 
room and rapped at the door. Receiving no answer 
from Gerard, they opened the door. Then they saw 
Gerard kneeling rapt in a most profound ecstasy ; in 
one hand he held a crucifix, the other was resting on 



42-4 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

his breast as if in protestation ; his countenance was 
pale ; his eyes half open ; his breathing scarcely notice- 
able. The, archpriest, his brother and several others, 
who had hastened thither, observed him without daring 
to disturb the holy man in so sublime a seclusion, 
and silently withdrew. Some time afterwards, when 
they again looked after him, they saw him recovering 
from his ecstasy and ready to attend the solemnity. 
"I slept very little last night, and toward morning I 
was overcome by sleep," said he in excuse for his delay, 
to those who, he thought, had seen him in an ecstatic 
condition. 

Meanwhile, a large concourse of people had gathered 
in the church, since all wished to attend the Mass of 
the priest who had been so wonderfully cured. Mass 
was celebrated by Dominic, assisted by Archpriest 
Salvatore, to the edification of all, and with such de- 
votion and with so exact an observance of the rubrics 
that no one could have suspected that he had not said 
Mass for a long time. Brother Gerard and the entire 
Salvatore family went to Holy Communion. 

From this day forward Don Dominic Sassi said 
Mass regularly. When the bell was rung for this purpose 
people would say : "Come, let us see the miracle of 
Brother Gerard." This cure Avas also made known in 
distant places, and created no little excitemeut. 

In order to prevent the evil from returning, the ser- 
vant of God transmitted to Archpriest Salvatore — and 
this was as marvelous as the cure itself — the power 
to see to it that Don Dominic would celebrate Mass. 
As often therefore as it afterwards occurred that the 
priest objected to celebrate the holy mysteries, the 
archpriest needed only to command him in the name 
of the servant of God, to drive away all hesitation. 

Don Salvatore's house was, moreover, the scene of 
many other miraculous occurrences during Gerard's stay. 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 425 

Tims - to mention only a few of them - the innkeeper's 
brother, Don Philip came to Gerard's room to consult 
him about something. He found him in prayer before 
the crucifix, his eyes fixed on heaven and his body 
raised considerably above the floor. Astonished, he 
quietly closed the door and withdrew. Scarcely had 
he done so when he heard Gerard's voice calling out 
to him. "Don Philip," said he to him as he entered, 
"I know why you have come. Do not be scrupulous 
about that affair; trust in Divine Providence." These 
words, which intimated a supernatural knowledge of 
men's thoughts, did not of course miss the effect that 
was intended. 

John, Don Salvatore's little nephew, also occasioned 
a very wonderful incident. One day the boy received 
a pretty bird of which he was very fond. The servant 
of God took the bird, played with it, fondled it, and 
finally set it free, without reflecting that this might 
give great pain to the boy. The boy broke out into 
lamentations and cried aloud for his little favorite. In 
order to pacify him and to restore his happiness Ger- 
ard went to the window by which the little bird had 
escaped and exclaimed : "Little bird! do you hear? 
come back! come! the boy is crying and is angry 
because you are free. Come, my little bird!" And like 
an escaped prisoner whom contrition had induced to 
return the little bird came flying to the servant of God, 
who was thus enabled to restore it to the boy. 

The respect entertained by the Salvatore family in- 
creased day by day. They revered him as a saint. 
Don Philip had conceived so high an idea of him that 
he did not hesitate to compare him to St. Vincent 
Ferrer. Don Joseph, the physician, called him "a model 
of every virtue, especially of obedience, and a miracle 
of penance." 

The love, respect and confidence which the Arch- 



426 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

priest Don Angelo cherished in his heart, had become 
so great that he was accustomed to praise the servant 
of God not only as an "angel in the flesh," and a man 
full of the love of God and of charity towards his neigh- 
bor, but he also endeavored to gain in a special manner 
his help and his holy affection. He proposed a compact 
according to which they should oblige themselves in life 
and after death to mutual support by prayer. The ser- 
vant of God joyfully agreed to this. 

The written compact is preserved as a testimony of 
Salvatore's esteem for Brother Gerard, and also of the 
love which the latter bore to this worthy priest and to 
his relatives. It reads as follows : 

"In the name of the Most Blessed Trinity, of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the whole heavenly court. 

Brother Gerard hereby binds himself : 

1. To recommend me in all his prayers in an 
especial manner to the Lord, so that hereafter we may 
both enjoy the vision of God in paradise. 

2. To come to my aid in all my spiritual and tem- 
poral necessities by vocal or interior prayers in what- 
ever place he my be. 

3. To obtain for me the grace to exercise 1113' office 
in a holy manner, to sanctify all those who have been 
intrusted to me, to avoid every offence against the 
Lord, and to purify me from all my imperfections. 

4. To pray to God above all for the spiritual and tem- 
poral welfare of the members of my household, as also 
for the general peace and quiet of Oliveto, which is my 
home. 

5. To render me this spiritual aid as long as he 
lives, and after his entrance into eternity. 

6. To procure for all my penitents perfect obedience. 
I, Don Archangelo Salvatore, who am writing this, 

bind myself on my part to correspond faithfully to all 
the inspirations of the Lord ; to pray and have prayers 



LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 4'27 

said to the divine Majesty for the above-mentioned 
Brother Gerard." 

On the margin of this document is the following 
subscription : "I, Gerard Majella, of the Congregation 
of the Most Holy Redeemer, bind myself by what is 
contained in this document, by virtue of holy obedience,. 
for the term of my natural life, and for the life after 
death." 

In the mean time Gerard's health did not improve, 
in spite of the rest and care which he was taking. To 
the spitting of blood was added a violent fever which 
was regarded as an unmistakable forerunner of his 
approaching death. 

As the saintly brother wished to die among his 
brethren, he took leave of the esteemed Salvatore 
family a week later, in order to return to Caposele. 

However, before leaving for the latter place, he 
visited the members of another family to which he was 
much attached, the family of Angelo Pirofalo, in order 
to bid them farewell. He did this, and predicted his. 
death. His last words to them were : "Look occasion- 
ally in the direction of Caposele. So long as you see 
a white cloth unfurled at a window, I shall still be 
alive. When you do not see it any more, you may 
know that I am dead." 

Oliveto was several miles from our house at Caposele, 
so that with the naked eye one could not distinguish 
its windows, although the convent stood on an eminence. 
Nevertheless, what Gerard had said actually occurred. 

The Pirofalo family perceived the mysterious sign 
which disappeared at Gerard's death and was never 
more seen. 

Gerard left a keepsake to the family, which after- 
wards brought to mind most vividly his very great 
sanctity. When about to return home after having 
paid a visit to this house, he left his handkerchief on a 



428 LAST UNDERTAKING AND LAST JOURNEYING. 

chair on which he had been sitting. Pirofalo's daughter 
drew his attention to it, and wished to give it to him. 
"No matter," said the servant of God, "keep it ; perhaps 
one day it may be useful to you." The prediction was 
verified. The girl was married, and was in danger of 
losing her life upon the birth of her first child. On 
finding no alleviation in her sufferings she invoked the 
intercession of all her patrons, one after the other; 
finally she remembered the relic of Gerard which she 
possessed. She had it brought to her immediately, 
-and her confidence was rewarded, for no sooner had 
the handkerchief touched her than all pains ceased, 
and the child was happily born. With great respect 
and with special jealousy was this relic preserved ever 
afterwards, until later, her heirs cut it into very small 
pieces, in order to satisfy the wishes of the friends and 
admirers of the servant of God. 

Brother Gerard left Oliveto on the 31. of August, on 
a Sunday morning, and arrived in Caposele at noon, 
"so feeble," says Father Tannoja, "that he no longer 
appeared to be a human being." "On first seeing him," 
says Father Cajone, "I had to do violence to myself not 
to shed tears." He had to retire iinmediatelv. 



CHAPTEE XXV. 
The Cell In Which One Does The Will Of God. 



The cell of the sick mau which we now enter to con- 
sider the saintly brother in his last labors and struggles 
can truly be called a school of Christian patience, of 
resignation and of charity. Gerard who was the joy- 
ful follower of Christ crucified, the enthusiastic friend 
of the will of God during his whole life, was faithful to 
the end. 

His illness made rapid progress during the first few 
days. The hemorrhage became more and more violent, 
and constantly recurred. It was astonishing how he 
who was so emaciated could loose any more blood 
without dying. He was often bathed in perspiration, 
had one swoon after the other, while his heart beat 
violently; he was continually in an agony of death. 
He had a large crucifix and a picture of the Blessed 
Virgin put before his bed. At sight of these two 
sources of power and of consolation, he could not tire, 
nor become discouraged in his sufferings. 

From the beginning it had been his passion to do 
the will of God. This passion was now more intense 
than the fever which was consuming him, and made 
sickness most desirable. 

When the evil spirit appeared to him one day and 
made him an offer of health and of a longer life, Gerard 
cried out in a firm tone of voice : "Begone, miserable 
beast ! I wish what God wills, and I command you to 
trouble me no longer." 



430 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

The joy he experienced in fulfilling the will of God 
in every situation was so great that he wished to mani- 
fest it to everyone entering his cell. He therefore had 
a sheet of paper on which these words were written in 
large letters : "Here one does what God wills, as God 
wills, and as long as God wills," (Qui si sta facendo la 
volonta di Dio, come vuole Dio e per tutto quel tempo 
che piace a Dio,) fastened to the door of his cell. 

On one occasion Father Cajone, who, like a father 
frequently visited him and sympathized with him in 
his sufferings, asked him whether in all things he con- 
formed his will to the will of God. Gerard answered : 
"Yes, my Father; I represent to myself that this bed 
is for me the will of God, and that I am here nailed to 
the will of God. I am of opinion and hope that I and 
the will of God have already become one." 

He expressed himself similarly to the brethren when 
they showed compassion for him. "I am fulfilling the 
will of God," he said, "I am satisfied to leave the world 
in order to unite myself to God." Several times he 
was heard to exclaim : "Oh my Eedeemer, I have al- 
ways desired, and I still desire to do Thy most holy 
will!" 

The noblest attachment to the most adorable will of 
God is shown by the answer which the sufferer gave to 
Santorelli's questions whether he wished to live or die. 
"I wish neither to live nor to die," he said, "I wish only 
what God wishes. It is true it gives me pleasure to die, 
because I long for union with God ; yet to die gives me 
displeasure, because I have not yet suffered anything 
for Jesus Christ." 

How sincerely these last words were meant, how 
truly they came from his heart he proved more than 
once during his last sickness. 

Once Father Rector found him in the agony of death; 
his face was deadly pale. Suddenly the eyes of the 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 431 

servant of God fell upon the crucifix ; this seemed to 
revive him ; his face became animated, his cheeks 
glowed. The Superior wished to know what interior 
emotion had effected such a change. Gerard sighed 
and answered with ardor: "O my Father, the desire to 
be united with God is so very great, it is so very great!" 

How much he yearned for sufferings, and how he 
desired an opportunity of long suffering we find ex- 
pressed by the prayer which he often said : "I suffer, 
O my God, because I do not suffer; to suffer, O my 
Jesus, to suffer and not to die !" 

He received strength to devote himself to the will of 
the Lord and to a heroic desire for sufferings from his 
uninterrupted intercourse with Christ crucified. 

Whenever it was possible, he arose from his bed and 
was placed in a chair before his crucifix, where he spent 
two or three hours in meditating on the sufferings of our 
divine Saviour. He then addressed his dear Lord in 
the sweetest language; and made declarations of loving 
heroism. Thus he often prayed : "I suffer very much, 
O my Jesus ! but it is for Thee, Who for the love of me 
hast died on the Cross. To suffer is very little if one 
suffers for Thee." "O my Jesus," he exclaimed on 
another occasion, "Thou didst die for me, and I wish 
to die to please Thee !" 

He found courage and perseverance in the wounds 
of the Saviour. All those who saw him left him edified 
and filled with veneration for such a sufferer. 

Don Camillo Bozzio, who was one of the most 
zealous visitors of the sick man, said : "During his last 
very long and painful sickness I visited him nearly 
every day. I noticed that his mind wandered very 
often, and yet after he revived his soul was still in 
union with God. 

"Never," he continues, "did I hear a complaint from 
his lips. I am convinced that his greatest desire was 



432 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

conformity with the Crucified. It also appears to me, 
that in consequence of the union of his soul with God, 
his body did not suffer in proportion to the violence of 
the fever that consumed him. One of his principles 
was : "that no prayer is more quickly heard than that 
which is addressed to God for sufferings. 'God,' he 
said, 'willingly grants all graces which serve for the 
salvation of our souls ; but in order that these graces 
may be as highly valued as they deserve to be, He 
wishes us to pray for them for a long, a very long time. 
But this is not to be the case if we ask for sufferings. 
God gives us the grace at once, and perfectly.' " 

Such knowledge as Bozzio had of the suffering ser- 
vant of God was easily acquired by others ; for scarcely 
was the news of the first illness of the saintly brother 
who was so much admired and loved spread among 
the people, when everyone wished to gain admission to 
his cell. "Not a day passed," says Tannoja, on which 
priests and prominent men of the vicinity did not come 
to pay him a visit. All were anxious to receive advice 
and instruction from him ; the unalterable conformity 
which Gerard exhibited with God's will was truly 
marvelous. 

Gerard, in spite of his weakness, counseled or exhort- 
ed each one as was necessary. To one he gave the assur- 
ance of his affection; to another he promised his 
prayers; and when he discovered a sinful heart, he 
punished it as it deserved. 

This last happened to a young man who had visited 
him, no one knows for what special reason. He was a. 
worthless fellow who had not only destroyed his own 
happiness but that of several families, to gratify his pas- 
sions. As soon as Gerard saw him he addressed to him 
the following reproachful words : "How dare you come 
here, you, who are the cause of so many tears ? And 
do you desire that Jesus Christ should bestow favors 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OP GOD. 433 

upon you?" It is not expressly stated that this sinner 
was converted; yet we can suppose that our Lord Who 
had inspired the servant of God with this reproach, 
also foresaw their effect. 

Gerard not only devoted his loving attention to those 
who came to his sick-bed, but also to many others who 
could not approach him, and yet claimed and deserved 
his special care. 

"Even in the feeble condition," says Father Tannoja, 
"when as it were, his soul was on the point of leaving 
his body, Gerard did not fail to console many of his 
friends by letter, and to exhort them to the practice of 
Christian virtues." 

Of the letters which Gerard wrote on the threshold 
of eternity, only one is preserved. It is addressed to 
the niece of the Archpriest of Oliveto, Donna Isabella 
Salvatore, and is typical of the faithful, zealous and 
charitable heart of the servant of God. It reads 
thus: — 

"Jesus! Mary! Blessed forever be the adorable 
Trinity, and our dearest and divine Mother Mary ! 

"My beloved Sister in Jesus Christ ! God knows in 
what conditon I am, and yet He enables me to write to 
you Avith my own hand. From this you can see how 
much He loves you, and also how much more He will 
love you, if you do all that forms the subject of my 
prayers for you. 

"My dear child, you cannot imagine how much I 
desire your eternal salvation. Our dear Lord wishes 
that I should cast a look of solicitude upon you. 

"As I love all creatures that love God, so I love you. 
Yet you must know that if any creature were to love 
me outside of God, I would curse it in the name of our 
Lord ; for our attachment must be entirely pure. We 
must love every creature only in God, and never outside 
of God. 



434 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

"But now to what concerns us. I wish to say that if 
you do what I have so often asked you to do, then you 
will give God and myself the greatest pleasure. 

"Everthiug my child is worthless except the love of 
God. Therefore I beg of you to disengage yourself 
from all passions and worldly attachments, and to unite 
yourself most intimately to God. This, indeed, should 
be your principal endeavor : to belong entirely to God. 
Oh, how beautiful it is to belong entirely to God! Many 
happy souls have experienced this ; you should also 
seek to experience it ; and you will then be able to give 
me testimony of it. Of what benefit is it to love the 
world ? Such a love produces only trials and bitterness. 

"Well ! nothing is wanting but that your heart should 
belong entirely to God. Henceforth, let nothing dwell 
therein except God. If, however, you should notice 
that a passion for whatever is not God wishes to pene- 
trate your heart, say to yourself: my heart is given 
away, God has taken it for Himself, He lives therein ; 
there is no room for another; therefore, begone all 
those things that are not God! The spouse must be 
jealous of the esteem of her divine bridegroom, and 
must therefore in all her actions guard against every 
shadow of vanity. She must watch over her heart that 
she may be justly called a temple of God, a palace of 
God. Yes, this is the name of a heart that has entirely 
consecrated itself to God. 

"Pray for me ; now I need your prayers more than 
ever. Your most unworthy servant and brother in 
Jesus Christ, Gerard Majella, of the Congregation of 
the Most Holy Redeemer." 

Meanwhile, the illness of the servant of God was 
making notable progress ; it was thought that the 
moment had come in which Holy Communion, which 
lie had hitherto received daily, could be solemnly given 
him as viaticum. As the Superior, Father Cajone, was 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 435 

not at home, Father Buonamano, the minister of the 
house carried the Blessed Sacrament to the sick bro- 
ther. The latter had raised himself in his bed and 
begged to be placed in a becoming posture to await 
the coming of our Lord with devotion and compunction. 
Holding the Sacred Host in his hand, Father Buona- 
mano, turned to the servant of God and said: "Behold! 
here is our Lord, Who is your Father, and Who in a 
short time will be your judge. Make an act of faith, 
dear Brother, and openly profess it." In obedience to 
this invitation, Gerard said with great humility and 
confidence the following prayer : "O my God ! Thou 
knowest that everything that I have done, everything 
that I have said, I have done and said to Thy honor. 
I die contented, because I trust that I have sought 
nothing else than Thy honor and Thy holy will." 

How happy the soul that in so decisive a moment 
can pass such consoling judgment upon its past life ! 

After the servant of God had received Holy Com- 
munion he asked his brethren to leave the room, for he 
disired undisturbed intercourse with our Lord of which 
he did not wish to have witnesses. 

On the following morning, the 6th. of September, his 
condition had become worse. To his other ailments, 
dysentery and constant perspiration had supervened, 
which very much exhausted him. He had taken no 
nourishment of any kind for several days. It was 
thought that it was time to administer Extreme Unction 
to him ; but all at once things changed. 

The same morning brought a note from his director, 
Father Fiocchi. In this note the Father gave him 
command to spit no more blood and to become well 
again. Gerard took the note, read it, and put it on 
his breast. 

When Santorelli approached his bed he found Gerard 
quite recollected and holding a letter in his hand. He 



436 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

asked him : "What is that?" "A command," answered 
Gerard, "which Father Fiocchi has sent me ; he wishes 
that I should no longer spit blood." "Very well," said 
the doctor, "and what do you think of doing?"' The 
brother did not answer the question, but, turning to the 
infirmarian, said to him: "Brother, please take away 
this basin ;" thereby indicating that he would obey. 
But when Santorelli perceived that the dysentery still 
continued, he said to the servant of God: "Of what 
benefit is it not to spit blood if the other complaint 
continues?" "I have received the command," said 
Gerard in his simplicity, "not to spit blood. As to the 
other ailment, I have received no order." Santorelli 
then went to Father Garzilli and begged him to con- 
vince the brother that the command which had been 
given was intended to bring about a complete cure-. 
Father Garzilli hastened to the sick man. "Brother," 
said he, "is this the way in which you fulfil obedience? 
And have you no scruple on this account? Father 
Fiocchi wishes that you should not only stop spitting 
blood, but should rise from your bed in good health." 
"If this is the case," said Gerard, most humbly, "I will 
also obey in this point." 

When Santorelli came again in the afternoon, Gerard 
received him with the words : "My dear Doctor, to- 
morrow I must leave my bed." The doctor smiled. 
"Yes, to-morrow I must rise," said Gerard. "If you 
wish to give me something to eat," he added, "I am 
ready to take it." Santorelli hesitated, but when he 
saw with what assurance the servant of God spoke, he 
resolved to give him permission. Just then a messen- 
ger arrived from Oliveto with a basket of peaches, 
sent by the Salvatore family; the infirmarian placed 
some of them on the table. While the doctor noticed 
them he said : "If you promise to do what Father Fioc- 
chi commands, I will allow you to eat one of the 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 437 

peaches." "Yes," answered Gerard, "obedience must 
be rendered, God must be glorified." He then ate 
one of the peaches, then a second, and a third. The 
consequence was, he felt quite refreshed, and was 
changed in appearance. The spitting of blood troubled 
him no longer; the fever ceased, and there was every 
appearance that the sickness had vanished. Gerard 
arose, and would have been glad to resume all his 
usual occupations. 

Not without anxiety did Santorelli come to the con- 
vent, the following day, to see his patient. On looking 
into the cell, he did not find him, and upon inquiring 
he was told that Gerard was walking in the garden 
supported by a cane. "This is a miracle of obedience!" 
the doctor exclaimed ; and his astonishment was very 
great. 

In fact, this recovery was nothing short of a miracle. 
Gerard had to acknowledge this himself, very well 
knowing, how near death he had been. "The day of 
the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin," he said confiden- 
tially to the doctor, "should have been the day of my 
death, and of my entrance into paradise. However, I 
begged our Lord to grant me the grace of dying on the 
following day, as on this festival so many pilgrims 
arrive here, and for this reason my death would have 
proved troublesome to the Community. But Father 
Fiocchi's command has delayed my death." And to 
one of his countrymen, Philip Galella, who was en- 
gaged at work at Caposele, he said the same in these 
words : "O my dear friend, I should have died on the 
feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, but the 
Lord has added a few more days to my life." 

Instead, therefore, of reaching the much-desired end, 
he appeared in the refectory, to the great delight of 
the Community. All believed that he would recover. 

A few days afterwards, a holy soul, that was very 



438 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WELL OF GOD. 

dear to him, hastened to enter the celestial paradise. 
He did not begrudge her the privilege of going to God 
before him, for it was Sister Mary Ccelestis Costarosa, 
who died at Foggia on the 14th. (or 24th.) of September. 
Gerard had the consolation to see at the hour of her 
death the entrance of this holy soul into paradise ; and 
was so affected by what he saw that he could not con- 
ceal his joy. A lay-brother noticing his special joy 
asked him the cause of it. "Do you know, my dear 
Brother," answered Gerard, "that to-day at Foggia the 
beautiful soul of Sister Mary Ccelestis entered heaven? 
She has gone to receive the reward of her love of Jesus 
Christ and of the Blessed Virgin." However much 
this ascension into heaven tilled him with joy he still 
closed the narration of it with a deep sigh which was 
forced from him by his longing for this happiness. At 
first Gerard's assertion about Costarosa's death was 
not believed, but information was soon received from 
Foggia, confirming it. 1} 

About this time another incident occurred which 



*) The sanctity of Mary Ccelestis Costarosa was proved in 
a marvelous way after her death. Among other things, her 
body remained for a long time incorrupt, so that whenever 
the Sisters opened the vault for the burial of a deceased 
nun, they were able to change Costarosa's garments Thirty 
years after her death, on the ist. of January, 1785, when this 
was again to take place, the nun to whom this task had been 
assigned, found the garments adhering to her right foot, and 
tore it off with some violence. Thereby the skin was some- 
what injured, and so much blood flowed from the wound that 
the hands of those who were dressing the corpse were entirely 
bespattered with it. Again, on the 18th. of October, 1788, on 
opening the coffin, the cloth which covered her face was quite 
saturated with the blood that had flowed from her mouth. 
Father Loyodice, C. SS. R. in his "Life of St. Alphonsus," 
published in Spain, mentions that he himself saw the body a 
hundred years after its burial, and that he found it incorrupt, 
with the exception of the feet and the point of the nose, which 
showed marks of decay. 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 439 

shows the servant of God to have been endowed with 
the gift of seeing the death of distant friends. 

Herbert Gaifi, a painter living at Oliveto, and a rela- 
tive of the Salvatore family was obliged to start for 
the convent at Caposele, to do some work. Before he 
set out he called upon the archpriest and asked him 
whether he had any message for the convent. With 
the exception of cordial greetings he had nothing to 
confide to him. Early the following morning Gaifi 
arrived at the convent at Caposele and Gerard opened 
the door. He was on the point of delivering Salvatore's 
message when the brother interrupted him and said: 
"Our good archpriest is in deep sorrow ; his father has 
just died." "It is not possible," said Gaifi, "for I left 
the old gentleman in good health. When I took leave 
of him last evening he was sitting with his family in 
quite a cheerful mood ; it was he who cried to me in 
the loudest tone of voice not to forget kind regards for 
Coposele." Gerard however maintained his first asser- 
tion and added that the old gentlemen had suddenly 
died of apoplexy. "If this is the case," said Gaifi, 
"I will have to return to Oliveto, to pay him the last 
honors." "Yes, go," said the servant of God, "and tell 
the archpriest that he should rejoice, for his father has 
escaped purgatory. (Non ha neppure toccato il fuoco 
del purgatorio.)" On his return Gaifi found old Salva- 
tore dead, and the Avhole house in mourning, but this 
mourning was considerably mitigated, nay, changed 
into joy, by the saintly brother's message. 

Death, which had been put to flight by Gerard's 
obedience, had not however concluded peace, but only 
a truce, which was not of long duration. Scarcely had 
every one begun to rejoice that the holy brother had 
been restored to them when some symptoms created 
considerable anxiety. The improvement in Gerard's 
health was only the fruit of obedience; a further 



440 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

extension of the term of life lay not in God's plan. 
The servant of God expressly declared this when some 
of the brethren manifested their satisfaction at his be- 
ing so well. "God did this," he said, "only for His 
own honor, and in order to show what obedience can 
do. I shall nevertheless die in a few days, and be in 
eternity." 

The month of October had scarcely begun when his 
whole exterior began to change. His face was as pale 
as before ; the fever also returned. The great emacia- 
tion of his body proved that the old disease had again 
taken hold. 

His thirst for sufferings now reached its climax. The 
desire to become like his sorrowful Redeemer permea- 
ted his whole life, and impelled him to ask of God the 
grace of being thought worthy to feel the interior and 
exterior sufferings endured by our Most Holy Redeemer 
at the hour of death. This heroic petition was not re- 
fused : Gerard was now sunk in a sea of bitterness which 
often became so great that he could not refrain from 
giving expression to his sufferings. 

One day Santorelli entered the cell, while Gerard 
was engaged in an interview with the Crucified, and 
heard the following words : "O Lord, help me in this 
purgatory! ( Adjutami in questo purgatorio !)" The doc- 
tor asked him why he spoke thus. "My dear doctor," 
Gerard answered, "I have asked Jesus Christ to make 
it possible to satisfy for all my debts here below, by 
suffering for the love of Him ; and He has heard my 
prayer. I am suffering purgatory; but the thought 
that thereby I am pleasing Jesus Christ consoles me." 
"I suffer true martyrdom," he said on another occasion; 
"I am in such a condition that I have scarcely strength 
to speak." 

In the same way did he express himself to a priest, 
Don Gerard Gisone, who later became a Redemptorist, 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 441 

and Master of Novices and who had come to speak to 
the servant of God in regard to matters of conscience. 
On taking leave, he said to Gerard : "Pray for me, for 
I suffer much." "But I am also full of suffering," re- 
marked the sick brother. "Oh! it must be; I must 
suffer!" As he did not give the reason, the priest made 
inquiries and said : "But what do you suffer?" "I am," 
answered Gerard, "constantly in the wounds of Jesus, 
and the wounds of Jesus are in me. I suffer incess- 
antly all the torments and pains that Jesus Christ had 
to endure during His bitter Passion." 

In the meantime he showed no impatience, no weari- 
ness, and when reference was made to his sufferings he 
made light of them. 

In fact it seemed to him he was not suffering enough. 
"I suffer very much, it is true, O my Jesus!" he was 
heard to say, "but I suffer for Thee Who didst die for 
me on the Cross. Oh ! it is not enough. Indeed it is 
not enough." He often exclaimed : "I wish to suffer, 
O Lord! I wish to suffer." This was one of his usual 
ejaculatory prayers, and so was the following: "Oh! 
how I do suffer, because I do not suffer!" and this 
ejaculation he pronounced with the fullest conviction, 
though he was sunk in a sea of sorrow. "Brother 
Gerard," the doctor used to say, when he made his 
morning visit to the sick man, "did you suffer during 
the night?" Gerard always answered with great con- 
fusion and embarrassment: "But I am not suffering 
anything !" or : "yes, I am suffering because I am not 
suffering." 

The inconvenience and trouble which his sickness 
created for his brethren was painful to his sensitive 
nature. 

Santorelli had ordered that a brother should watch 
with him at night for the purpose of regularly giving 
him a certain kind of medicine. When Gerard heard 



442 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

of this order, lie said, with tears in his eyes : "O my 
dear Doctor, this gives me great pain !" and he repeated 
these words with every sign of dissatisfaction. 

That the members of the Community offered up for 
him special prayers was very annoying to his humility. 
"I am only a useless creature," he said, "and do not 
deserve such charity." 

The expenses incurred for medicines weighed very 
heavily on his heart. One day Santorelli found him 
very much depressed. Gerard begged him to state 
what would be the amount so far expended. For he 
thought of writing to his relatives, so that the expenses 
which the house had to bear might, in some measure, 
be defrayed. "Do not think of this," said Santorelli, 
and he endeavored to quiet him. Gerard, however, 
said : "My dear Doctor, of what use have I been to the 
Congregation, and why should the Congregation bear 
such a burden?" This delicacy on his part caused 
his heart to overflow with gratitude; for any service 
that was rendered him he was grateful with touching 
humility. 

Astonishment was created by his indifference in re- 
gard to medicine, and his wonderful obedience to the 
doctor and to the brother infirmarian. Very much 
weakened as he was, he could not take the medicine 
himself ; but whenever the brother wished to give him 
some of it he always took it without the slightest ob- 
jection. Several times he felt great disgust, and be- 
came nauseated, but with great effort he suppressed it. 
"My God," he said, "help me, for I have no strength." 
A single word that referred to obedience would induce 
him to perform what was apparently impossible, and 
to act against his natural repugnances ; and all this he 
did, well knowing the uselessness of all medicines. 

As he was already very weak and found it difficult 
to speak, he frequently asked Stephen Sperduto to say 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 443 

aloud acts of resignation, of love and of contrition, 
"which Gerard said after him in a low tone of voice. 
This brother one day asked him whether he had any 
fear or temptations. Gerard answered : "I have done 
everything for the love of God ; I have never lost sight 
of Him. I have always endeavored to walk in His pre- 
sence, and because I have desired nothing else than 
His holy will, I die in peace." 

On his death-bed he was most edifying to all those 
who approached him. Those who visited him could 
imagine, according to the words of Santorelli, the phy- 
sician, that he was in Paradise, so holy, so celestial 
were the words proceeding from the lips of the dying 
brother. 

The favors bestowed on him by heaven and which 
had given his life so peculiar a character, did not now 
cease. He who entered his cell could at once notice 
that he was in the vicinity of a wonderful man. An 
exceedingly balmly fragrance tilled the cell; and this 
could not be accounted for in a natural way. 

Probably on the 14th. of October a very learned 
priest, Prosper d'Aquila, of San Andrea, came to pay 
him a visit, and Dr. Joseph Salvatore of Oliveto intro- 
duced him to Gerard. The priest was accompanied by a 
very simple, ignorant peasant boy, to whom he had 
promised that he would show him a saint. The boy 
came to the cell of the servant of God in all the excite- 
ment which such an expectation is apt to produce. In 
spite of his curiosity he did not dare to enter the room 
and remained behind the door so that Gerard could not 
see him. The latter, however, knew that he had hidden 
himself, and sent word that he should come in. Very 
much abashed and frightened the youth entered the 
room and viewed the "saint" with an embarrassed look. 
Mustering courage he allowed his eyes to wander about 
the cell and noticed a piano in the corner of the room, 



444 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

and was soon absorbed in regarding the instrument. 
He had never before seen one. Gerard, "who saw every- 
thing invited him to sit down and play. The embarrass- 
ment of the young man was naturally very great ; the 
by-standers laughed, and he excused himself, sa}ing 
that he was ignorant of the art. But Gerard urged 
him. Then the young peasant, having looked at his 
patron, Don Prosper, who laughingly nodded to him 
that he should obey, finall}' sat down at the instrument, 
and placed his heavy fingers on -the key-board so as 
accidentally to strike some of the keys. It was of 
course expected that the attempt would result in a 
harsh discord. Yet the very first touch of the keys 
woke the most charming chords, and the illiterate youth 
played a soft, soothing symphony, to which those 
present listened with emotion and amazement. When 
later on the player was asked how he felt when at the 
piano, he said that he did not himself know what was 
going on; for scarcely had he put his fingers on the 
keys when he felt a marvellous power which moved his 
fingers over the key-board. The instrument used in 
this miraculous manner was afterwards purchased by 
the Santorelli family, and preserved with such vener- 
ation that it was still in existence in 1843. 

On the loth, of October, the feast of his very dear 
patroness, St. Teresa, Gerard's strength was exhaus- 
ted. 

"O Doctor," he said to Santorelli in the morning, 
"recommend me to St. Teresa, and receive Holy Com- 
munion for me." He himself received it as Viaticum 
with such great devotion, fervor, joy, calmness and 
dignity, that according to the testimony of a witness, 
he was like an angel, a seraph who is absorbed in God. 
After Communion the servant of God asked for the 
corporal on which the sacred species had just been 
laid, having received it, he placed it on his breast. 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 445 

where it remained till his last breath, as a token of his 
love for the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

In the evening, Gerard asked what time it was. He 
was told that it was six o'clock. *> "Then we have six 
hours more," answered Gerard. Soon afterwards San- 
torelli arrived. He found him very much exhausted, 
but did not suspect that the end was as near as it 
actually was; on the contrary, the sick man appeared 
better than in the morning. When Gerard, contrary 
to his practice, had begged him to stay with him, he 
excused himself on the plea that some of his other 
patients needed him. He very much regretted this, 
when, upon his arrival next morning, he heard that 
the servant of God had already expired. Ho under- 
stood, but too late, that Gerard wished to detain him 
the previous evening to have him at his side when he 
was dying. 

About seven o'clock in the evening a messenger 
arrived from Oliveto with a letter from the archpriest, 
begging the saintly brother to recommend to the Lord 
a matter, the happy issue of which was of the highest 
importance to him. He had undertaken to build a 
chapel of our Lady of Consolation, and the lime-kiln 
which he had prepared for this purpose had proved, 
as soon as tire was kindled in it, to be so weak that 
there was danger of a colapse. In this difficulty Salva- 
tor thought of the compact made with Gerard, and 
therefore sent the messenger to entreat him to recom- 
mend the unfortunate affair to Almighty God. The 
Father Minister who received the letter, read it in the 
cell of the sick man without informing the latter of its 
contents. But Gerard had received knowledge of the 
matter in an extraordinary manner, and said to the 
messenger : "Do not be afraid, the lime-kiln will not be 



*) Literally told, twenty-four o'clock ; according to our 
calculations of t' me, 5.45 P. M. 



446 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

injured." After the letter had been read to him he 
nodded assent, promising he would recite the desired 
prayer. He then had some dust from the grave of 
St. Teresa brought to him, and gave it to the messenger, 
telling him to scatter it over the kiln ; he asserted again 
that the kiln would remain uninjured. The event 
showed that he had foretold the truth. 

The nearer the hour of his dissolution approached, 
the more careful he was to prepare himself properly 
for the comming of his divine Bedeemer. In spite 
of his baptismal innocence, which he had the great 
happiness to preserve untarnished, he considered him- 
self before God as a very great debtor, who with many 
sighs would have to implore the mercies of the Lord. 
"O help me prepare myself," he said to the intirmarian; 
"I shall die to-night, and wish to say the Office for my 
soul." 

A few hours before his death he sat up in bed and 
began to recite the Miserere, every word of which he 
pronounced with the most touching devotion. To each 
verse he added an act of contrition, and each time repeat- 
ed the words: "Tibi soli peccavi et malum coram te 
feci ; a peccato meo munda me ! (To Thee only have I 
sinned, and have done evil before Thee ; blot out my 
iniquity!)" While thus praying, he was tilled with so 
much contrition that he shed tears. 

It was eight o'clock when he was repeatedly heard 
to say: "O my God! where art Thou? let me see 
Thee !" Thereupon he turned to those present and 
begged them to help him to become united with God. 
Brother Carmine Santagniello noticing the disquiet that 
seemed to come over him, asked him whether he was 
disturbed in conscience. "Why talk to me about being 
disturbed?" answered the dying man. Soon after 
Carmine said to him: "My dear brother, we have 
always loved each other ; I beg of you to remember me 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 447 

when you are with God." "Oh, how could I forget 
you?" answered Gerard. 

The doctor, as has been said, did not think that 
death was very near ; hence no one remained with him 
after night prayers except Brother Xavier d'Auria, 
who was always near him. 

Between ten and eleven o'clock it appeared as if 
Gerard were going to faint. Having recovered, he be- 
came restless, timid, and cried out with animation: 
' f Quick, Brother, drive away that miserable creature ! 
what do you want here ?"' These may have been the 
last terrors of the devil that disturbed him in this 
manner. 

Soon afterwards, his countenance brightened, and 
becoming more and more cheerful, he repeated these 
words: "See the Madonna! Oh, let us honor her, let 
us honor her !" And kneeling on his bed he became 
rapt in ecstasy. A few hours before, he seems to have 
been favored with an apparition of the Mother of God. 
His face then flushed, and, pointing with his hand to a 
corner of his cell, he said to the brother who was with 
him: "See, Brother, oh see, how many scapulars!" He 
had always been very zealous in spreading the devotion 
of the holy scapular ; it is possible that on this account 
he was favored with a consoling vision of the Queen 
whose habit he had given to very many persons. 

Like St. Teresa, Gerard had a great devotion to the 
Forty Martyrs, and some time before he said that they 
had promised to visit him at the hour of death, just as 
they had done to St. Teresa ; there is no doubt that the 
saints kept their promise; though from the behavior 
of the servant of God on his death-bed, nothing of this 
could be noticed. 

The last two hours of his life were spent in continual 
intercourse with Heaven. Gerard's eyes were stead- 
fastly fixed on the crucifix, or on a picture of the Bles- 



448 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

sed Virgin, and his lips constantly uttered the most 
ardent ejaculations. "O my God," he said, "grant me 
pardon! pardon! I am sorry !" and again : "My God, 
I wish to die to please Thee ; I wish to die in order to 
do Thy most holy will !" After his voice had entirely 
failed him, the movement of his lips showed that he 
was continuing his protestations and his acts of love. 

About a half an hour before his death he asked for 
a little water. The brother who was watching by his 
bedside went away to procure some, but delayed in re- 
turning as the refectory was locked and he had first to 
obtain the key to unlock it. When he returned with 
the water he found the servant of God facing the wall, 
and believed that he had fallen asleep. A few minutes 
afterward he noticed that he came to himself. Ger- 
ard heaved a deep sigh. The brother at once saw 
that he was dying, and ran out of the room to awake 
the Father Minister. The latter hastened to come, but 
arrived just in time to see Gerard breathing his last; 
and while he was giving him the final absolution, the 
holy soul winged its flight to its Creator. 

Gerard had prayed to God to die forsaken. His 
wish was gratified as far as this is possible in a place 
where holy charity watches to make such a thing 
impossible. 

His death occured at 1.15 A.M. the 16th. of October. 
Gerard was thirty years old, and had spent six years 
in the religious life. 

Immediately after his death, Gerard appeared to a 
pious person who had been very much devoted to him. 
He was clothed in the habit of his order ; shortly after 
he appeared a second time in still richer garments and 
radiant with glory. He encouraged her to suffer cheer- 
fully for Jesus Christ, and said : "Oh how generously 
God rewards the slight sufferings which we endure on 
earth for His sake !" 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 449 

Immediately after his death he also appeared to 
Father Peter Paul Petrella, V with whom he had been 
living at Iliceto, and permitted him to see a ray of 
the glory which he was enjoying in heaven. 

When Father Buonamano had assured himself of the 
death of the brother, he awakened the members of the 
Community, and desired that all should immediately 
perform an act of penance in thanksgiving to God and 
the Blessed Virgin for all the favors bestowed upon 
the deceased. After this thanksgiving they all repaired 
to the corpse of the holy brother, whom they intended 
to bleed. Father Buonamano took Gerard's arm, and 
said: "Brother Gerard, you have always been very 
obedient. Now I command you in the name of the 
Most Blessed Trinit}- and of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
not to neglect to give its a proof of your sanctity." 
After a vein had been cut, the blood flowed as abund- 
antly as from a living person. It was caught up in 
basins, and afterwards some handkerchiefs were satu- 
rated with it, and distributed among the friends and 
admirers of the servant of God. 

The fragrance which had hitherto filled Gerard's cell 
did not pass awa}^ with his death ; it now issued from 
his body in a remarkable manner, . and could be per- 
ceived in the whole house. 

The following morning Brother Carmine Santagniello 
wished to give the usual sign by tolling the bell. Strange 
to say, he began to ring it as merrily as was customary 
on festivals; and when a Father noticing his mistake, 
hastened to draw his attention to what he was doing, 
the brother excused himself by saying that he knew 
not how it happened, but that he yielded to an inward 
impulse when he began to ring the bell in a festive 
manner, instead of ringing it as is done on the death of 



He died a holy death in 1771, aged 45 years. 



450 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

a brother. For the inhabitants of Caposele, this ring- 
ing, the meaning of which they surmised, was the sign 
for a general move towards the convent. 

There, at an early hour, the body of the servant of 
God had been placed in the church, where crowds of 
people came to view and venerate it. 

"The coffin," says Father Tannoja, "was- surrounded 
by the rich and the poor, by seculars and ecclesiastics. 
One mentioned a prophecy of the servant of God which 
had been wonderfully verified ; another told how Ger- 
ard had penetrated into the secrets of his heart ; another 
spoke of the way in which the saintly brother had led 
him to Jesus Christ, and had put his soul into a better 
state. The poor especially, who had lost in him a true 
father, filled the house and the church with their lam- 
entations. Not satisfied with these demonstrations of 
veneration and love, and impelled by their devotion, 
the people began to cut his religious habit into pieces 
and to cut off his hair ; and lest the body might be en- 
tirely stripped of its garments, guards had to be stat- 
ioned near the coffin, in order to check the impetuosity 
of the people." 

On the morning of the 16th. of October the Office of 
the Dead was chanted in presence of the clergy and 
people of Caposele. Father Garzilli sang the Mass 
and Father Buonamano delivered a discourse which 
moved all to tears. The corpse was exposed in the 
church and during this time visitors were innumerable, 
for the news of the death of the wonderful lay-brother 
had rapidly spread all over the country, and clients, 
friends, and admirers of Gerard came from far and 
near to pay him their last respects. Such a crowd of 
people had not been seen at Caposele for a long time. 
With unspeakable joy and devotion these good people, 
with their handkerchiefs dried the perspiration which 
constantly covered the face of the deceased in a niira- 



THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOER THE WILL OF GOD. 451 

culous manner. Every one wished to obtain some 
souvenir. 

Among others, there also came to the bier a pious 
woman named Bose Sturchio, who had always highly 
esteemed the servant of God, and who for her own 
benefit had frequently asked his advice in many diffi- 
culties. Bathed in tears, she was kneeling near the 
body, and in her heart begged the glorified brother to 
procure for her some relic by which she might remem- 
ber him. While she was thus praying there suddenly 
rolled to her feet a tooth which had fallen from the 
mouth of the servant of God. The possession of so 
marvelous a gift no one seemed inclined to dispute; 
she took the tooth and preserved it as a treasure. After 
her death this relic came into the possession of her 
daughter, who wore it around her neck constantly. It 
was afterwards divided among several of Gerard's 
friends. 

It was quite natural that the people should be anxious 
to preserve the portrait of the holy brother for poster- 
ity. In the absence of a competent painter, there was 
fortunately a person who was engaged in the work of 
casting small statues, and who understood how-to take 
wax impressions of corpses. Two of these casts of 
Gerard's face were taken, one of which was for the 
house ; the other was destined for the Salvatore family. 
Only afterwards it was thought expedient to have Ger- 
ard's portrait painted, and one of the casts was given 
to an artist. Yet in spite of every effort, the painter 
did not succeed in giving an approximately true like- 
ness of Gerard : there was not question of similarity. 
Then Father Cajone again had recourse- to the frequently 
tested mysterious obedience of the blessed brother, the 
obedience on which he believed he might depend, so 
that even now Gerard would pay special regard to his 
command. "My dear Brother Gerard," he prayed, 



452 THE CELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 

"you see that your portrait is a failure. See that it is 
a success." After the painter had again done the work 
the portrait gave general satisfaction. It represents 
the servant of God in the attitude in which he was seen 
at the house of the archpriest at Oliveto when he fell 
into an ecstasy ; he is holding a crucifix in one hand, 
while the other is on his breast, as if in protestation. 

In external appearance, Gerard was quite tall in 
stature and of very slight build. Sickness and auster- 
ity of life had so reduced him, that he resembled a 
living skeleton. His face was long and pale, having 
color only when in ecstasy, and then often glowing; 
his forehead was high and broad, his head remarkably 
large, so that it became a subject of merriment to his 
companions in his youth. His temperament was ani- 
mated and choleric ; mildness and tranquility, so char- 
acteristic of him, were the fruits of his virtue. The 
physical strength and endurance amid all his labors 
exhibited by Gerard, especially in (he convent, were in 
open contradiction to the weakness and delicacy of his 
body, and ultimately appeared to be the effects of a 
higher gift. Over his whole exterior was diffused that 
indescribable higher splendor which lends to the saints, 
in spite of the abjectness of their bodily appearance, 
that amiability, dignity and majesty, which so power- 
fully attract some, while they fill others with vener- 
ation and awe. 

Friday the 17th. of October, thirty hours after his 
death, the funeral services took place. Previous to the 
burial of the body, Father Buonamano again wished to 
extract blood from it, and gave the same order that he 
had given before. The result was the same ; the blood 
was still fresh and red. . His lips were flexible, and the 
wonderful perspiration on his forehead, which people 
had continually wiped off with handkerchiefs, did not 
cease. 



THE <ELL IN WHICH ONE DOES THE WILL OF GOD. 45o 

A special place was assigned for the reception of 
his remains, and his grave was prepared just in frout 
of the door of the sacrist v. 

Justly presuming that the deceased would one day 
receive the honors of the Church, Father Buonamano 
on the very day of the funeral, had a verbal process 
drawn up by Joseph Fungaroli, a notary, in regard to 
the miracles which had already been wrought by the 
servant of God since his death. Besides the Fathers 
and ten lay-brothers, who at that time formed the 
Community at Caposele, ten inhabitants of the place 
submitted their testimony upon solemn oath, and this 
the notary embodied in the act which is found in the 
process of beatification. 



CHAPTEE XXYI. 

Honors Shown To Gerard After Death. 



The high opinion which was entertained of the 
sanctity of the servant of God during his mortal life, 
as well as the confidence reposed in the power of his 
intercession with God in the greatest difficulties, did not 
suffer any diminution after his death. On the contrary, 
his beautiful end, corresponding perfectly to his whole 
life, and the splendor of the first miracles at his bier 
quickened the confidence that had heretofore been 
reposed in him. No one doubted that the poor lay- 
bother, whose mortal remains were resting near the 
door of the "Mater Domini," was now their friend and 
intercessor before the throne of God. 

In the Congregation to which he belonged he A\as 
unanimously praised. They looked upon him as a 
glorified saint in heaven, whom they might invoke with 
confidence. 

The holy Founder St. Alphonsus gave his subjects 
a brilliant -example of reverence. He regarded the 
sainted brother as a second Pasqual Baylon. He was 
filled with respect for his son, and was so convinced of 
the solidity of his virtue that he himself wished to be- 
gin the work of transmitting to posterity the memory 
of the saintly brother. He gathered material for the 
publication of the life of the holy religious, but a multi- 
plicity of duties, sickness and various other things 
prevented him from executing his plan. Among the 
unpublished letters of the holy Doctor, one is preserved 
in which he informs a religious that he forwarded to 
him some relics of Brother Gerard. Even on his death- 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 455 

bed, St. Alphonsus manifested his veneration towards 
the holy brother, for when his picture was shown him, 
lie seized it with an air of confidence, pressed it respect- 
fully to his bosom, kissed it, and recommended himself 
to the intercession of the servant of God. The thought 
of having the process of his beatification introduced was 
uppermost in his mind ; but various cares and obstacles 
prevented him from beginning the work. 

His spiritual sons most zealously imitated their holy 
Founder in this respect, and took great interest in 
spreading the veneration of the servant of God. They 
considered Gerard a model of virtue and regularity ; as a 
bright example, especially for the younger brothers who 
had just entered upon their career in the religious life. 

Pictures of the servant of God were distributed dur- 
ing our missions, and the people were encouraged to 
invoke his intercession. 

Forty years after his death, the room in which Ger- 
ard died was converted into a chapel, in honor of 
St. Stanislaus, and near the entrance was placed the 
following inscription, indicating its former as well as 
its present use : 

CUBICULUM 

QUOD EXIMIA TNNOCENTIA AC PIETATE VIR 

FRATER GERARDUS MAJELLA, MURANUS, 

CONGREGATIONIS SANCTISSIMI REDEMPTORIS. 

PR^ESENTIA QUONDAM USUQUE COHONESTANS, 

SANCTORUM TANDEM MORTE DECORAVIT; 

ADOLESCENTULORUM INNOCENTISSIMO, 

ANGELICARUM PULCHRITUDINE ET ODORE VIRTUTUM 

PULCHERRIMI INSTAR FLORIS INTER CCELITES NITENTI, 

BEATO STANISLAO KOSTKA, 

IN SACELLI FORMAM REDACTUM, 

PATRES EJUSDEM CONGREGATIONIS DOMUM HANC INCOLENTES 

TERTIO IDUS JULII A. D. MDCCXCVI. 



See next page. 



456 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

Not less great was the honor paid to the saintly 
brother by persons not belonging to the Congregation. 
During his life-time they had regarded him with 
enthusiasm, honored him as a messenger from heaven; 
after death they venerated him as a powerful interces- 
sor before the throne of God. 

The convents of Muro, Foggia, Ripacandida and 
others, in which the servant of God specially labored, 
honored and invoked the deceased as their patron in 
heaven, and their invocations frequently met with mar- 
vellous success. 

Among the clergy and laity of the diocese in which 
Gerard had become known, the veneration towards 
him was general; they called upon him in all their 
trials and difficulties. 

"Real emulation has arisen between Gerard and his 
friends," Don Angelo Salvatore wrote, some time after 
the death of the servant of God, "they honor and in- 
voke Gerard as a saint of heaven ; while Gerard distri- 
butes without intermission the most marvellous gifts. 
Who could enumerate all the miracles which occur 
almost daily in our archdiocese, and in the neighbor- 
hood where his intercession is invoked." 

In fact, the servant of God continued working miracles 
after his death, and proved himself a faithful friend to 



1) THIS IS THE CELL 

WHICH BROTHER GERARD MAJELLA OF MURO, 

RELIGIOUS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER, 

A MODEL OF INNOCENCE AND OF PIETY, 

CONSECRATED BY HIS PRESENCE 

AND MADE ILLUSTRIOUS BY A HOLY DEATH. 

HIS BRETHREN CHANGED IT INTO A CHAPEL 

AND DEDICATED IT ON THE 1 3TH. OF JULY, 1 796, 

TO THE FLOWER OF YOUTH, 

TO HIM WHOM THE RENOWN & PERFUME OF HIS ANGELIC VIRTUES 

CAUSE TO BLOOM IN HEAVEN AS A MAGNIFICENT LILY, 

SAINT STANISLAUS KOSTKA. 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 457 

all those who called upon him with confidence ; so that 
the miracles, and the requests granted, are exceedingly 
numerous. 

A biography of the holy brother, published in 1875, 
mentions seventy of these wonderful events. These 
are the most important and the most stricking, while 
a countless number have been entirely forgotten. 

"I cannot help," thus complains Father Tannoja, 
"charging our people with neglect, since they took so 
little interest in recording the most important miracles 
wrought by Gerard. The narration of them would fill 
volumes." 

We will mention a few of the more recent miracles 
by which God proved to all men the sanctity of His 
servant; especially those in which he manifested his 
brotherly love and most tender solicitude in regard to 
the members of his Congregation, even after death. 

His last Superior, Father Cajone, was one day 
assailed by great melancholy. In this state he remem- 
bered Brother Gerard, and called upon him for help. 
The holy brother, who during life was always obedient 
to the slightest sign, did not seem to have lost this 
good quality after death. At the same moment he 
appeared to the Bector, radiant with glory, and said to 
him in a most cheerful manner: "Courage! it is all 
over!" (Statevi allegro, die tutto e finite) And as 
he had said, so it was. Joy again took possession of 
Father Caj one's soul, and all his sadness vanished. 

He rendered similar service to another of his 
brethren at Caposele. It was Brother Nicholas Sapio, 
who was afflicted with troubles of conscience. He 
manifested his condition to the Eector of the house, 
who encouraged him to have recourse to Brother 
Gerard, and to visit his grave, there to thank God for 
the graces which He bestowed upon this holy man. 
Nicholas did this, and "scarcely," so he testified, "had 



458 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

I uttered my prayer, when I found myself free from 
temptation, and more cheerful than before." 

It was Gerard's wonderful power that made Father 
Tannoja his biographer. The latter writes as follows, 
in the preface of his "Life of the Servant of God :" "If 
I now publish this little work, it is Gerard himself, 
who, by a miracle wrought in me, has induced me to do 
so. I happened to be at "San Angelo dei Lombardi," 
when on the 26th. of August, 1786, 1 was attacked by a 
dangerous illness. When I returned to the house at 
Caposele, my disease increased rather than diminished. 
On the evening of the 9th. of September, one of the 
brethrern, Father Januarius Orlando, seeing me in a 
very deplorable state, said to me: 'Promise Brother 
Gerard to write his life, and he will obtain for you a 
restoration of your health.' As I had not the faith that 
was needed, I did not follow Father Orlando's advice. 
On the morning of the 10th., however, I found myself 
in extreme danger. I was seized with convulsions, and 
the chill of death came upon me. I then remembered 
the counsel that had been given me, and as all other 
help seemed to be fruitless, I turned to the blessed 
brother with confidence and exclaimed : 'O Gerard, 
help me !' I experienced the efficacy of his intercession 
immediately, for at the same moment I was freed from 
all sufferings. I acknowledged the favor, and in grati- 
tude promised to write the life of the servant of God. 
And if I am late in fulfilling it, I hope that in his good- 
ness he will pardon me." 

Of the miracles which the privileged brother per- 
formed from his place in heaven, in favor of his other 
friends and admirers, we mention those by which he 
proved his affection for his friend Canon Camillo Bozzio. 

The latter had a nephew named de Bogatis, who was 
suffering from a lingering fever, accompanied by dysen- 
tary. One morning he was found in his bed apparently 



HONOBS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 459 

dead, and his uncle, who himself examined him, and 
vainly searched for a sign of life, was convinced that 
his nephew was dead. By the members of the family, 
Gerard's intercession was highly esteemed. They were 
in possession of a tooth that had belonged to the ser- 
vant of God, and this the disconsolate mother placed 
upon the deceased and said: "O my dear Gerard! do 
not forsake me in my misery ; restore my son's life!" 
and lo ! after this prayer, the young man opened his 
eyes and arose from his bed perfectly well. 

In no less charitable a manner did the servant of 
God come to the assistance of another of Bozzio's 
nephews, Dominic Anthony Bozzio. He had been 
seized with a mortal illness during the month of July, 
1789. The physicians declared that they were unable 
to save the life of the sick man. This created great 
consternation in the family, for Anthony was the father 
of many children. The uncle, however, remarked to 
the sick man that Gerard had promised to be a special 
intercessor for them in heaven. "If that is the case," 
said the sick man, "let us remind him of his promise." 
In union with his family he then addressed a few 
prayers to Gerard, asking his assistance. On the 
seventh day, when the crisis was feared, the sufferer 
fell into a very quiet slumber. While asleep, in a dream, 
he saw the holy brother who seated himself at his bed- 
side and said : "We have gained everything" (Abbiamo 
fatto tutto). When the sick man awoke he called the 
members of his family and related to them what he 
had seen. It was not a freak of his imagination ; the 
fever had really left him. 

That Gerard continued 10 remain consoler, helper 
and monitor, of the inhabitants of Caposele is proved 
by a long series of miraculous- events of which we will 
mention only a few. 

The spiritual condition of a certain young man of 



460 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

Caposele was very sad. A charitable friend much in- 
terested in him, recommended him to the prayers of 
Father Petrella. The latter said : "Very well ; I Avill 
command Brother Gerard to find him, and to convert 
him." The following night, Gerard appeared to the 
sinner and by an earnest exhortation induced him to 
repent and to go to confession. Very early on the fol- 
lowing morning he came to the church where he carried 
out his resolution, and made known the cause of his 
conversion. 

In 1785, the notary, John Baptist Fungaroli of Ca- 
posele, was also miraculously helped by Gerard. Being 
already in the agony of death, he sent for Father Nicholas 
Mansione to assist him. The latter came at once, and 
virile he was Avith the sick man, Pascal Stila called to 
pay him a visit. When Stila remarked the condition 
in which Fungaroli was, he cried out: "O Brother 
Gerard, I hear of miracles performed by you ; if you 
do not cure my friend, I will not believe what others 
say of you." He then placed the picture of the servant 
of God on Fungaroli's breast, and at the same moment, 
so Father Mansione testifies — the groans of the sick 
man ceased, the fever disappeared, and he was well. 

Donna Michele Giordano of Corbara came to Caposele 
to enjoy its pure country air. While there she heard 
so many things about the saintly lay-brother that 
she conceived a great devotion towards him, and be- 
gan to invoke his help in many necessities. One day 
while she was leaving the house to go to church, Ger- 
ard stood before her and said : "Prepare yourself for 
great trials but do not become discouraged ; God will 
sustain you." The woman Avas surprised at the lang- 
uage of the unknown lay-brother, and A\ T hen she met 
Father d'Agostino, who AA'as then Kector, at Caposele, 
she related the iucident to him. "Which of our lay- 
brothers Avas it?" he asked. "None of this house," 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 461 

was the answer. The Rector, who susj)ected a mystery, 
asked her to come into the parlor, where Gerard's por- 
trait was hanging. As soon as Donna Giordano had 
cast a glance at it she cried out: "Ah! that is the one 
who met me !" Soon afterwards, heavy trials afflicted 
her, just as the servant of God had foretold. 

The miraculous help of the servant of God was also 
bestowed upon all who invoked him with confidence, 
at the place of his death as well as elsewhere. Ignatius 
Cozza, a canon of the cathedral of Trevico, had been 
suffering from a bodily injury several years. It caused 
him great pain and was pronounced incurable. One day 
— it was the 5th. of August, 1766 — as he was in the 
greatest distress, he had recourse to Gerard with Avhom 
he had been very familiar during life, and while apply- 
ing a piece of one of the saintly brother's garments to 
the wound he prayed as follows : "O my dear Brother 
Gerard, if it be for the greater honor of God and for 
the benefit of my soul, free me, I beg you, from these 
sufferings." The conclusion of the prayer was also the 
end of his sufferings. The Canon was no longer afflic- 
ted with the ailment, and in spite of the great exertions 
to which he subjected himself by preaching he no longer 
felt any inconvenience. 

A Benedictine nun in a convent in Sicily had a 
diseased arm which was regarded as incurable. A 
Father of the Congregation gave her a picture of the 
servant of God, and told her that she should recommend 
herself to him with lively faith. She did so, and, 
behold! when the surgeon came to dress the wound, 
he did not even find the mark nor a trace of where it 
had been. 

In April, 1776, a lady of Benevento, named Antonia 
del Vallo, was suffering great pain, and her life des- 
paired of. One of her relatives, a priest, seeing the 
sick woman in so precarious a state, put a few relics of 



462 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 



tlie servant of God under lier pillow, and at the same 
time invoked his aid. During the night of the 23rd., 
Gerard appeared to her, signed her with the sign of 
the Cross, and said : "You are healed." Then he 
disappeared. When her relative again asked her how 
she felt, she answered : "I have been well ever since 
that unknown religious Avas with me and signed my fore- 
head with the sign of the Cross." When she was shown 
the various pictures of saints which had been placed 
under her pillow she recognized in none of them the 
countenance of him whom she had seen during that 
night. But Avhen a picture of our servant of God Avas 
shoAvn her, she immediately cried out : "This one, yes, 
this one it Avas avIio healed me." 

Another woman, Leonarda Miocore, had been troub- 
led Avith a membrane groAving over her left eye, Avhich 
prevented her from seeing. As the other eye Avas half 
covered with a similar membrane, the unfortunate 
AA r oman Avas nearly blind. In her misery she had 
recourse to Gerard, of Avhose miracles she had heard, 
and the faith and confidence with. Avhich she did this 
where Avorthy of consideration and deserved a mira- 
culous cure. In a short time she Avas entirely well. 
When she afterwards met the oculist, she said in a 
joyous tone of voice: "You could not cure me; I app- 
lied to another, and he has undertaken to cure me." 
"You are joking," said the doctor. But she showed 
him her eyes, and said : "See Avhether I am not cured," 
and triumphantly exhibiting a picture of the saintly 
brother, Avhich she usually Avore around her neck, she 
added: "This AA r as the doctor!" The examination Avhich 
the astonished doctor uoav made proved that both eyes 
Avere perfectly well, and in a better condition than at 
any preA'ious time. 

"One day," thus relates Brother Anthony de Cosimo, 
a great admirer of the servant of God, "I Avas in the 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 463 

Commune of Spechia-Gallone, at the house of the Mar- 
chioness Granafe, who asked me to relate something of 
the life of the saintly Brother Gerard. I tried to com- 
ply with her request; I desired particularly to extol 
his obedience and simplicity, and therefore I described 
how, taking the words of the Superior in their literal 
sense, he had crept into the oven. 'Oh !' cried out the 
Marchioness, 'that is enough for me : I see that he was 
a very stupid saint.' 'God forbid that you should ever 
be forced to have recourse to this stupid saint !' was 
my reply. But how wonderful is the Lord in His 
saints! Two months afterwards I received a letter 
from this lady which informed me that she had been 
attacked with a dangerous illness, and had been given 
up by the doctors. She then addressed herself to 
Gerard, and said : 'If you are really a saint, let me be 
convinced of it. I will then contribute my share to 
your beatification.' She had scarcely said the words 
when she found herself free from all pain. Three days 
after she wrote to me. In the letter was inclosed a 
present of a hundred ducats to defray part of the 
process of the beatification. She now in a very contrite 
manner asked Gerard's forgiveness for having him 
called a stupid saint." 

It is noteworthy how often the servant of God helped 
in a marvelous way not only mothers who at the birth 
of their children were exposed to the danger of death, 
but also those children whose vital spark came near 
being extinguished, from weakness, before receiving 
Baptism. Among the few miracles enumerated by 
Father Tannoja, we find as many as nine cases of the 
kind, and many an infant at Baptism received Gerard's 
name in gratitude for such preservation. 

Caterina di Yiggiano was attacked by a dangerous 
fever when she* was about «to give birth to her child. 
The malady had already continued for two weeks, 



464 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 



and her death was momentarily expected. At this 
critical time, her friends gave her a picture of the 
servant of God. The sick woman pressed it to her 
lips and said in a broken voice: "Not for myself 
do I wish the favor, but for my child." After this 
prayer, Caterina, to the astonishment of all, became 
well, and the girl that was born was called Gerarda, 
out of gratitude to the holy brother. 

The glorified brother obtained a still greater favor 
for the wife of Thomas Ronco. She had given prema- 
ture birth to a child that died immediately after 
Baptism. The distressed parents had recourse to the 
servant of God, placed a relic upon the cold body of 
the little child, and behold ! on examination it was found 
to be alive and quite healthy. 

Among the many miracles wrought by the servant of 
God after his death we shall only mention four which 
deserve special attention since they have been subjec- 
ted to ecclesiastical investigation and have been ap- 
proved. The first was wrought in favor of Joseph San- 
torelli, the grandson of a great friend of the servant of 
God, Nicolas Santorelli, during the octave of the Im- 
maculate Conception, in 1823 or 1824. Joseph Santo- 
relli was seized Avith a serious attack of typhoid, and 
everyone doubted his recovery. Death seemed inevit- 
able. His relatives thought it necessary to make prep- 
arations for the funeral. He received Extreme Unction 
and the priest stood at his bed-side to say the prayers 
for the dying. In this hopeless condition they placed 
a picture of Blessed Gerard in the cap of the dying 
man, and his brother hastened to the church of "Mater 
Domini" to implore the assistance of the servant of God. 
Mass was said for him in honor of Blessed Alphonsus, 
that he might command Gerard to procure the grace of 
recoveiy for the grandson of his friend. 'Meanwhile there 
was no change in the condition of the dying man ; all 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 465 

day he struggled with death, and no one doubted but 
that death would gain the victory. But, in the evening, to 
the great astonishment of his relatives, the sick man sat 
up in his bed and breaking forth into a torrent of tears, 
kissed the picture of the servant of God, put it into his 
mouth, and swallowed it. When asked why he did 
this, he answered : "I was completely oppressed by a 
fatal sleep which lasted all day, during which time I 
constantly saw a lay-brother from 'Mater Domini.' As 
he drew nearer to me, I repeated in a loud voice: 
'Brother, hear me !' (Those who stood around him had 
really heard these words several times from the dying 
man). The brother had a crutch in his hand, and his 
hat under his arm. When the clock was on the stroke 
of one, he granted my wish and came to my bed. 'Re- 
joice' said he, 'you have received the grace.' At that 
moment I noticed my deceased grandfather at his side. 
Overcome by emotion I wished to apply to my grand- 
father but he said: 'Apply to him!' 'Who is he?' 
I asked. 'It is brother Gerard,' answered my grand- 
father. Brother Gerard made the sign of the Cross on 
my forehead, whereupon both disappeared." This 
narration of the sick man surprised the by-standers so 
much the more, as his strength now revived and he 
seemed to have escaped the danger of death. When 
his physician, Don Andrea Cleffi, was informed of what 
had happened, he came and told the patient to make 
an attempt to rise from his bed. The sick man, who 
previously could hardly be lifted by four men, was 
now able to rise without any assistance, and without 
the slightest difficulty. To convince them of the mira- 
culous recovery of his health, he ate macaroni, omelet 
and cheese, like a person in health, while his relatives 
were amazed and rejoicing. 

On September 15th., 1849, Teresa Deheneffe, of the 
archdiocese of Malines, in Belgium, received a deep 



466 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

wound from the thrust of a dagger, in the hand of a 
wicked person. Teresa did not wish to betray her 
assailent, and therefore said nothing about her wound 
to which she applied linen bandages, hoping thereby 
to heal it without the assistance of a physician. How- 
ever, she Avas deceived, Slowty, and in consequence 
proving the more dangerous, a fistula developed in her 
wound, and after two years and ten months, when the 
sufferer was obliged to make her condition known, it was 
declared that an operation was necessary. This verdict 
was the source of much distress to Teresa; in her 
necessity she sought refuge from the servant of God 
who, however, did not seem to heed her prayer at first. 
On the 18th. of July 1852, the painful operation was 
performed, but it soon proved to be unsuccessful, and 
the physician was obliged to declare that the wound 
had every symptom of being incurable. Her confessor 
now ordered Teresa, who was very much surprised at 
this, again to have recourse to the servant of God. 
She obeyed, and on the 27th. of July began a second 
Novena in his honor, at the beginning and end of which 
she had the Holy Sacrifice offered. This time it "was not 
without the desired effect. During the night of the 
3rd. to the 4th. of August, the poultices and bandages 
fell from the wound of themselves. Teresa, on awaken- 
ing in the morning and examining the wound, found it 
not only entirely closed but that not the least scar re- 
mained. Beside herself with joj, Teresa hastened to 
the surgeon and wished to have a testimonial of her cure 
written. She then told him the particulars. The phy- 
sician replied that to accept the affair as a miracle, no 
scar should be found. "Very well," replied Teresa smil- 
ing, "find one if you can." He then made a most care- 
ful examination and convinced himself of the truth of 
his patient's statement. He did not hesitate to acknow- 
ledge this as the work of God. "This instantaneous 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 467 

cure," lie wrote in the testimony concerning it, "must 
indeed be considered a miracle." 

In March, 1850, Ursula Solito of Francavilla Fon- 
tana, in the diocese of Gria, had a swelling on her fore- 
head, in consequence of which her eye and her whole 
face became inflamed ; as it became cancerous and was 
continually spreading, it caused her great pain in her 
head and back. The patient called her sufferings — 
"the very pains of hell." — The remedies of the physi- 
cian as well as the advice of a professor who had been 
consulted had proved useless, and they both agreed that 
no operation could possibly be performed without 
accelerating the patient's death. Nothing further could 
be done, save that a few applications could be made to 
relieve the sufferer. It was thought necessary to have 
the last sacraments administered. The affliction of the 
family at Ursula's disconsolate condition may easily be 
imagined. The daughter of the sick woman inquired of 
the physician as to what hopes there were of her 
mother's recovery. He answered that she could live 
but a few hours. There happened to be in the room 
at that time a certain Anna Maria Giancola, who 
encouraged them to have recourse to heaven alone. 
She then went to procure a picture of Blessed Gerard, 
and placed it between the bandages around the head. 
Then all knelt down and recited the Litany of Our 
Blessed Lady, and some other prayers. A few minutes 
later Ursula trembled violently and sat up in bed. She 
told them she had received a great shock, and had 
experienced an acute and unusual pain. She then lay 
down and slept well that night. The following morning, 
the physicians, upon their arrival, found her in good 
spirits without any pain and free from fever. The 
bandages were removed from the forehead, and lo ! the 
terrible cancer had disappeared, leaving no other trace 
than a very faint red mark. Undoubtedly this cure 



468 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

amazed the physicians. But Ursula said: "I am cured," 
not by your skill, but by the favor of Blessed Gerard. 
Both physicians reserved the honor of this remarkable 
cure to the servant of God, and considered it of a 
supernatural order. 

In April 1867, Lorenzo Biola, a boy ten years old, 
of S. Giorgio la Montagna, in the archdiocese of Bene- 
vento, was ill of incipient dropsy which resisted all the 
remedies of science and was bringing the child to an 
early grave. Distinguished professors of Naples were 
as much at a loss to give advice as the physicians of 
Benevento. A surgeon of Naples feared the child was 
not even strong enough to undergo the operation of 
tapping. The child pined away unaided, burning of 
thirst, and rilled with disgust for food and medicine. 
The boy was in this sad condition when the life of 
Brother Gerard was given him to read. He immed- 
iately conceived a great devotion to him, asked for a 
relic of his, and received one. He applied this relic 
to the afflicted part of his body several times, and re- 
cited three "Gloria Patris" in honor of the most Blessed 
Trinity, to obtain a cure through Blessed Gerard's in- 
tercession. During the afternoon of one of the last 
days of August the invalid fell asleep, and in his dreams 
saw a golden ladder reaching to heaven and leaning 
against his body. A religious very like Blessed Majella 
descended the ladder holding a crucifix in his left hand. 
When he reached the sick boy he stooped with his 
face turned toward little Lorenzo's body; after some 
time he disappeared without having uttered a word. 
From this instant there was a change in the condition of 
the sick boy ; the symptoms of suppuration vanished, 
the fever and thirst left him, the abdomen returned to 
its normal condition, and every other symptom of the 
disease vanished. From that time until the 18th. of 
June 1879, when Lorenzo gave testimony of this miracle, 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 469 

he had not experienced the least trace of his former 
trouble, and had always enjoyed excellent health. 

The numerous miracles which the servant of God 
performed without interruption after his death, spread 
his reputation, so that he became known not only 
throughout Italy but in other parts of Europe. On all 
sides voices were raised, expressing the wish that the 
Church might pass her decisive judgment on the life 
and miracles of the wonderful lay-brother. 

Father Camillo Eipoli, Superior General of the Con- 
gregation, was able to give noble testimony of the great 
renown of Gerard's sanctity. We quote his words : 

"All those," so says this witness, "who knew the 
great servant of God during his lifetime and saw the 
splendor of his virtues did not for a moment doubt that 
immediately after his death he was admitted to the 
beatific vision. People began to visit his humble grave 
in our church in Caposele, and day after day the con- 
course of the faithful augmented, and has not yet 
ceased. Moved by special devotion towards the servant 
of God, I too have visited this grave, and his Eminence 
Philip Caracciolo del Giudice, Cardinal of Naples, 
assured me in his last illness that he had resolved if he 
ever was restored to health, to undertake a pious 
pilgrimage to the same place. It Avas the opinion which 
I entertained of the sanctity of Gerard that induced 
me to enter the Congregation ; every day of my life I 
have endeavored to prove myself grateful to this holy 
brother .... At the present time the reputation of his 
sanctity has spread very far ; and not only from Home, 
the Papal States, and the rest of Italy, but also from 
Austria and other lands there came petitions for bio- 
graphies and pictures of the servant of God. This 
universal reputation of his sanctity finally induced me 
to take measures to have the process of beatification 
begun at Home, for God's greater glory." 



470 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

Not until the present century was quite advanced 
was it possible to think seriously of introducing this 
process. It appears that divine Providence wished 
the honors of the Church to be bestowed upon the 
father, before his highly favored son should receive 
them, however, after St. Alphonsus had been enrolled 
in 1839 in the calendar of saints, active steps were 
taken to submit the virtues and miracles of the humble 
lay -brother to the judgement of the Church. In the 
year 1843 the so-called process of information was 
begun at Muro, as well as at Conza. There it was 
opened by Monsignor Gigli, in April of the same year, 
and was continued during the following two years ; 
during this time sixty witnesses were permitted to give 
their testimony. At Conza, to which Caposele belongs, 
a similar process was opened on the 13th. of December, 
1843, and closed on the 24th. of February, 1845, after 
ninety-four witnesses had testified. According to cus- 
tom, the acts of the processes were forwarded to the 
Holy Father at Rome, with a petition to begin the pro- 
cess of beatification. Numerous letters from most 
prominent persons supported this petition to the Pope. 

Among these advocates we find the then reigning 
King of Naples, Ferdinand II, who, in his letter, dated 
the 5th. of September, 1846, calls our servant of God 
"a Christian hero, of whose virtues and miracles, he 
heard most astonishing things from trustworthy per- 
sons." The Cardinal, Archbishop of Naples, Eiario 
Sforza, also raised his suppliant voice in Gerard's 
cause ; he wished to see the process of beatification 
introduced "in order that," as he expressed himself, 
"the admirable example of the servant of God might 
be proposed to the imitation of all, and his incompar- 
able piety might shine as a new star in the firmament 
of the Church." 

Similar petitions, with like proofs, were addressed to 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 471 

the Holy Father by forty-six other bishops of the king- 
dom of Naples, as well as by many prominent persons 
of every walk in life. 

These requests did not remain without notice. On 
the 11th. of September, 1847, the introduction of the 
apostolic process was proposed; and on the 17th. of 
the same month, Pope Pius IX signed the decree by 
which Gerard Majella received the honorable title of 
"Venerable Servant of God." 

Again the process regarding the life and virtue of 
the servant of God was undertaken in Muro and Conza, 
this time by order of the Holy Father ; at Muro from 
1850 till 1856. In Muro there were thirty-six persons 
who testified ; in Conza twenty-four. Before the con- 
clusion of this process, the legal examination of the 
bones of Blessed Gerard was made, at which the mira- 
culous character of the servant of God became evident 
in the most consoling manner. "We found," relates 
the present bishop of Nusco, Monsignor Joseph Con- 
senti, C. SS.B. an eye-witness of the fact, "the bones 
of Blessed Gerard white and dry. Every eye was upon 
them. At first the head was raised (from the urn) then 
the physicians approached to count and examine the 
other bones. 

"But what happened at this moment in the presence 
of all ? From the forehead, and later from the entire 
skull, clear drops similar to lymph were oozing, which 
flowed quite freely and uniting, ran into the vase (in 
which bones were lying.) Imagine the emotion of the 
by-standers at so evident a miracle! Involuntarily, 
they sank on their knees, burst into tears, prayed, or 
expressed their surprise in loud exclamations. To the 
great surprise of all, it was seen that one of the physi- 
cians who was supposed to be an infidel, was moved to 
tears. When the officials were somewhat calmed, they 
proceeded with the examination of the remaining bones. 



472 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

These in turn presented the same spectacle as the sk ill. 
Hardly had they been laid in the vase, when this Jiqttid 
oozed from them also, and filled the entire vase with 
this wonderful liquid, and flowed upon the table and 
floor." It can easily be imagined what a happy impres- 
sion it made on all present. It may here be remarked, 
that the same miracle occurred again at the second ex- 
amination of the bones of the servant of God, on the 
11th. of October 1892. 

Though the researches in regard to the virtues and 
miracles of Gerard had been concluded most success- 
fully, a considerable time passed before the decree was 
published concerning the heroic degree of the virtues 
of the servant of God. Sessions were held to this effect 
March 12th., 1872; March 4th., 1873; and April 21st. 
1874, and on the 8th. of June of the same year, the feast 
of the Sacred Heart. During the feast of his twenty- 
fifth anniversary as bishop, Pius IX could solemnly 
declare the virtues of brother Gerard, heroic. 

It has been reserved for our present glorious sover- 
eign Pontiff to issue a similar decree regarding the 
miracles of Blessed Gerard. The difficult examination 
of the four miracles submitted for that purpose covered 
more than a decade of years. It was only on the 20th. 
of November 1888, that the ( 'ongregation of Rites v\-as in 
session for the first time ; the second council was con- 
vened on March 10th., 1891 ; and the third on January 
26th. 1892 ; Which last was conducted most solemnly 
under the direct supervision of the Holy Father. The 
decree which recognizes the four miracles was issued 
on March 25th. of the same year, and one month later, 
April 25th., 1892, the question of Beatification was 
proposed and ratified. The decree was published by 
his Holiness, on the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity, 
September, 8th., 1892. 

Finally, on the 29th. of January 1893, at the time of 



HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 473 

the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Leo XIII's 
consecration, the papal brief which admitted Gerard 
Majella among the number of the Blessed was read in 
the elaborately decorated hall of St. Peter's. The pic- 
ture of the servant of was unveiled, and on the afternoon 
of the same day the Sovereign Pontiff venerated it 
publicly for the first time. 

It is to be hoped that this solemnity has not put an 
end to the honors which God has destined for the 
blessed brother, in the eyes of the Church. 

We dare to entertain the expectation that she will 
soon enroll the humble Gerard Majella among the 
number of her privileged friends and intercessors, and 
that we may soon be permitted, to approach the bles- 
sed Brother with the petition : "Saint Gerard pray 
for us !" 

And now, after having meditated at length on Ger- 
ard's strivings, struggles, labors and sufferings, we take 
leave of him with the sentiments which filled the noble 
Peter de Blois on having had an opportunity to medi- 
tate on the life and labors of a namesake of our servant 
of God, a quiet monk who so much resembled the latter. 
These sentiments he beautifully expresses in the follow- 
ing manner: 

"A short time ago I saw a brother, named Gerard, 
who in his last years had no other wish then to die, 
while he always said with the royal prophet : 'Educ 
Domine de carcere animam nieani' (Bring my soul out 
of prison.) His desire was to be dissolved and to be 
with Christ. While we slept, he spent the night in 
prayer and weeping, longing for eternity, and although 
a layman and unlettered, he yet had the science of life 
written in his heart by the finger of God Himself. As 
to the articles of our faith, he answered with as much 
caution as if he had spent a large part of his life in the 
schools of Paris. He was indeed of the schools of the 



474 HONORS SHOWN TO GERARD AFTER DEATH. 

Apostles; a disciple of Him Who said: 'De excelso misit 
Dominus igneni in ossibus meis et erudivit me.' (From 
above He hath sent fire into my bones and instructed 
me.) Ah ! how truly learned and wise he was ! What 
good has the windy loquacity of worldly philosophy 
done for its votaries? Puffed up with worldly science, 
they did not know the God of hosts ! 

"May therefore my wisdom and philosophy he the 
philosophy of Brother Gerard, who had in his mouth 
and heart only Jesus Christ; May my philosophy be that 
of St. Paul, who declared that he knew nothing except 
Jesus Christ? and Iiim crucified." {Com. in Job. c. 5.) 



INDEX 

Chapter. Page. 

Approbations n. in. 

Preface to the First German Edition v. 

Preface to the Second German Edition x. 

Preface to the Present English Edition . . . xn. 
Letters Apostolic in Eeference to the 

Beatification of Bl. Bro. Gerard xiii. 

I. The Highly Favored Child 21 

II. The Apprentice 32 

III. At the House of the Bishop of Lacedogna . .40 
IY. Gerard Becomes Foolish for the Love of God. 50 

V. On the Boad to the Convent 64 

VI. The Lay-brother 80 

VII. The Celestial Life of the Novice 103 

VIII. Austere Life and Charity Towards Others. .118 
IX. First Public Appearance. 

Religious Profession 139 

X. The Gatherer of Alms 159 

XI. Labors at Muro and Corato 178 

XII. The Angel of Peace at Castelgrande 201 

XIII. Sojourn at Melfi. Death of Father Cafaro..214 

XIV. Pilgrimage to Mount Gargano 220 

XV. Labors at Melfi and Lacedogna 235 

XVI. Apostolate Among Virgins Consecrated 

to God 252 

XVII. Spiritual Counsels 276 

XVIII. Stormy Days 286 

XIX. A Eule of Life 306 

XX. At Naples 323 

XXI. The Porter 346 

XXII. Heavenly Gifts in Full Splendor 367 

XXIII. Other Apostolic Labors 386 

XXIV. Last Undertakings and Last Journeying. . . 405 
XXV. The Cell in which one does the Will of God . 429 

XXVI. Honors Shown to Gerard After Death 454 



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